The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 10

Dreamy Southland (Mengyu Jiangnan) is a housing development built in recent years, featuring villas styled after the gentle rivers and bridges of the Jiangnan region.

Due to the excellent geographical location and quality of the renovations, the property prices are quite steep.

Only the wealthy and powerful in Jing City (the Capital) can afford to buy property here.

The black sedan drove through the main gate and stopped in one of the zones.

The driver respectfully said, “Miss, we have arrived.”

Bai Nianzhao, following You Ting, stepped out of the car in confusion, a bewildered look on her face as she gazed at the two-story villa before her.

This was not the You family home.

You Ting lightly raised her chin towards the driver. Understanding immediately, the driver stepped forward, opened the door, and gestured an invitation to enter.

Bai Nianzhao followed You Ting inside and was stunned to discover that the furniture displayed in the house was precisely what they had picked out at the furniture store earlier.

“I know you’re not used to staying at the You residence,” You Ting said, “I don’t particularly like the You residence either.”

“I thought this place was quite nice, so I bought a set.”

Her tone was light and breezy, as casual as if she had picked up a small, pleasing toy on the side of the road.

The house’s decor leaned towards a grand yet elegant style, featuring a swimming pool in the middle, and a small courtyard and pond at the back.

The first floor was the reception area. You Ting pointed to the master bedroom on the second floor, “You’ll sleep there from now on.”

She then pointed to the side room next to it: “My room is there.”

Bai Nianzhao instinctively protested, “How can I sleep in the master bedroom and let you, Big Sister, sleep in the side room?”

You Ting raised an eyebrow and countered, “Why can’t you?”

Bai Nianzhao mumbled, “I’m not worthy.”

“Little one,” You Ting said, “Let me teach you a lesson today.”

She reached out a finger, her slender, fair fingertip hooking under Bai Nianzhao’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze.

“In life, confidence is the most important thing.”

“Everyone is unique. There is no such thing as high or low, noble or inferior.”

“Besides,” she drew out the end of her sentence, “This is the house I bought. If I say you are worthy, then you are worthy.”

The season was just beginning to turn to summer in Jing City, so it wasn’t exceedingly hot.

Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, casting light, dappled shadows on the floor.

The pressure of the finger on her chin was very light, only a faint warmth of skin touching skin could be felt.

Bai Nianzhao’s head was half-forced to tilt up gently, her gaze restricted, completely captivated by the person opposite her.

Self-conscious and flustered, she instinctively averted her eyes.

Perhaps the window wasn’t closed and the wind was too strong.

Or perhaps the light extending brightly from behind You Ting was overwhelming.

It made her feel a little dizzy.

It was a feeling Bai Nianzhao had never experienced before, like a lemon drop slowly melting on her tongue.

A sourness enveloped an unspeakable sweetness.

She was accustomed to bowing and scraping, accustomed to hiding herself behind the crowd.

From the first day she arrived at the Bai family, Bai Nianzhao understood that only by adhering to this principle could she survive.

She didn’t care about herself, nor did she think anyone in this world would care about her.

But the person before her repeatedly shattered the invisible restraints, telling her:

“You are the most important.”

“You are worth it.”

“You are worthy.”

Her shrinking shoulders unconsciously began to relax. She tried not to dodge You Ting’s gaze any longer, indulging herself by sinking into that inky sea.

The dust motes in the air were clearly visible in the light, swirling rapidly yet slowly.

Bai Nianzhao saw You Ting curl her lips into a faint smile.

“Do you understand?” You Ting asked.

Her wandering thoughts were instantly yanked back, pulled tight like a thin rope.

Like a soldier who had received an order, she nodded almost devoutly.

Bai Nianzhao’s world was simple, and her thoughts were simple:

What Big Sister said was always right.

Above all principles, Big Sister comes first.

You Ting lowered her hand and said to her, “Good, now go see what your new home looks like.”

She knew Bai Nianzhao had lived in Jiangnan before and probably missed that brief time the most.

That’s why she specifically chose this villa.

It offered high privacy, beautiful scenery, and most importantly, the design style was entirely based on the Southern region aesthetic.

There were no members of the Bai family here, no Mr. You, no Song Zhiqiu, and certainly no You Aofeng.

The driver trailed far behind.

Under the blue sky and white clouds, only You Ting and Bai Nianzhao walked side by side.

They walked to the backyard, where an ancient-style wooden plank bridge lay underfoot.

The bridge spanned both sides of the pond, with a pavilion built in the middle for resting.

Clutching the wooden railing of the bridge and looking down, one could see schools of small fish swimming in the water.

Perhaps sensing the human presence, the fish popped their heads up, then quickly swam away.

Lotus flowers of an unknown variety were planted on the water’s surface, some not yet fully bloomed, revealing only delicate buds among the green lotus leaves.

As Bai Nianzhao watched, she suddenly felt a sense of surreal wonder.

This place was indeed very much like Jiangnan.

But she also clearly knew that this was not that ordinary small Jiangnan town.

This was Jing City, an international metropolis, a wealth center where every inch of land was precious.

She lowered her long eyelashes, then suddenly turned her head to look at You Ting beside her.

She thought a lot, yet perhaps nothing at all.

Sensing Bai Nianzhao’s gaze, You Ting asked, “What’s wrong?”

Bai Nianzhao slowly let a smile unfold on her lips.

She shook her head, “Nothing.”

She had just suddenly realized that she had been trapped in the ‘dreamy’ Jiangnan for too long over these years.

Too long.

…

…

The You Residence.

You Aofeng leaned against the headboard, his hand tightly clutching his phone, the veins bulging on the back of his hand showing the intensity of his grip.

The glaring headline of the news on the screen caught his eye—

“You Corporation Heir Possibly to Be Replaced?”

The accompanying photo was a stolen shot of You Ting entering the company this morning.

The You family was not among the top-tier wealthy families in Jing City, but they could grudgingly be counted in the second tier.

In recent days, the news of You Aofeng’s car accident had spiked their public interest.

Countless people were waiting to see the You family’s troubles unfold.

Among them, the most pressing question was whether the You family’s heir would actually be replaced.

Besides You Aofeng, the You family also had a Miss.

The comments section below was bustling, with most people favoring Miss You.

After all, You Aofeng was now in a state where he needed assistance with everything from his food and clothing, let alone going to the company. It was unknown how long he would need to recuperate at home.

The possibility of lingering after-effects from the car accident was also unknown. Compared to betting on an uncertain future, the company’s senior management would likely prefer the healthy and lively You Ting.

During this period, if Miss You was ambitious and resourceful, she could take this opportunity to completely strip him of all his power in the company.

These words felt like arrows dipped in poison, piercing You Aofeng’s heart.

He covered his forehead, feeling the veins on his temples throbbing painfully.

Through the screen, he felt as though he could see the corners of those people’s mouths, pointing and making snide remarks about him being useless, just like You Ting.

“Argh!” You Aofeng could not bear it any longer and slammed his phone heavily onto the floor.

Song Zhiqiu, who had personally come to deliver You Aofeng’s meal, had just reached the door when she heard the man’s indignant and painful roar from inside.

She quickly opened the door and rushed in, casually placing the tray in her hand aside.

“Xiaofeng,” Song Zhiqiu asked with eyes full of concern, “What’s wrong? Are your wounds hurting? Should I call the doctor?”

You Aofeng let out a self-mocking cold laugh. He clenched one hand into a fist and heavily pounded his own leg.

“The pain is gone,” he looked up, his eyes hollow, “But Mom, I can’t feel anything.”

You Aofeng had been a prodigy since childhood. Having fallen into the dust overnight, he desperately tried to hide his unease and fear.

He pretended that nothing had happened, reassuring himself that everything was still the same as before.

But pretense was still pretense.

The facts were laid bare, and his life had been completely turned upside down.

Seeing her precious son become so dispirited, Song Zhiqiu felt a stab of pain in her heart. She reached out and tightly grasped You Aofeng’s hand.

“It’s alright, it’s alright,” she murmured, unsure if she was comforting You Aofeng or herself, “Xiaofeng, you are still the You family’s only young master, the heir of the You family.”

“Nothing has changed. Everything belongs to you.”

“Heh.” You Aofeng coldly curled his lips.

He pointed to the phone on the floor, his tone despairing: “Mom, that’s not necessarily true anymore.”

Song Zhiqiu glanced down at the floor.

The phone screen was shattered, spiderweb cracks spreading across it.

But the content on the page was still discernible.

Song Zhiqiu’s pupils contracted slightly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on You Aofeng’s hand.

She also clearly understood what the consequences would be of letting You Ting enter the company.

“Impossible!” Her voice was sharply high, and she said distractedly, “I will never let your father agree to it!”

You Aofeng lowered his head and did not reply.

Song Zhiqiu’s distressed expression slowly receded, and rationality returned. She frowned, her perfectly drawn eyebrows knitted in a difficult problem.

Mr. You truly loved You Aofeng and Song Zhiqiu.

That much was undeniable.

However, as his wife for many years, Song Zhiqiu knew deep down that Mr. You loved his company even more.

This was his life’s work, the business he founded with his own hands. Mr. You could not possibly stand by and watch the You Corporation decline.

Unidentified emotions flickered in Song Zhiqiu’s eyes. She took a deep breath and forced a smile for You Aofeng.

“Don’t worry, Xiaofeng.”

“I will never let that little girl snatch away what belongs to you.”

That evening, Mr. You returned home from the company. As he entered the door, he looked up and did not see You Ting’s figure.

He inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

Ever since this girl returned from her trip abroad, she had been acting strangely. Sometimes, she even seemed a bit intimidating.

Mr. You first went to visit You Aofeng, who was lying in bed.

You Aofeng had taken medicine and was already asleep. Perhaps because he hadn’t been exposed to the sun much recently, his complexion looked pale.

In just a few short months, he had lost a noticeable amount of weight.

Mr. You’s fatherly heart couldn’t help but ache. He truly adored this son wholeheartedly.

Now, the injury on his son’s body was a pain in the father’s heart.

Mr. You sighed heavily and tiptoed out of You Aofeng’s room.

He walked into the master bedroom. Song Zhiqiu was sitting on the bed, deep in thought.

“Why haven’t you rested yet?” Mr. You asked.

Song Zhiqiu snapped out of her thoughts and first forced a smile: “Have you eaten? If not, I’ll tell Aunt Hong to prepare some food for you.”

Mr. You raised a hand to stop her, “No need to trouble yourself. I’m not hungry.”

Song Zhiqiu walked over to Mr. You, gently massaged his temples, and softly asked, “The company matters must have been very stressful lately, haven’t they?”

Under her soothing touch, Mr. You slowly relaxed his brows. He patted Song Zhiqiu’s hand, “It’s alright. You don’t need to worry too much. Just take good care of Xiaofeng at home.”

Song Zhiqiu paused, taking the opportunity to sigh.

Mr. You asked, “What’s wrong? Has Xiaofeng’s condition worsened?”

“No, it’s just…”

Song Zhiqiu sat next to Mr. You, leaning against his shoulder, “Xiaofeng saw the news today and was very upset.”

“I spent a long time comforting him. Alas, I know too, how can Xiaofeng be the heir in his current state?”

She covered her face with her hands and sobbed, “I just hope that, in the future, Xiaoting can be merciful enough to accommodate us, mother and son, because we are family.”

Song Zhiqiu was a clever woman. She knew exactly when and what to say in front of Mr. You.

No matter what kind of man he was, there was always a bit of male chauvinism, especially when facing the woman he loved.

That’s why she wouldn’t act like a nagging shrew. The more gentle and pitiful her demeanor, the more Mr. You would feel guilty.

Mr. You indeed pressed down hard on Song Zhiqiu’s shoulders, reprimanding her, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

“Those news media are just writing rubbish. I have never once considered giving up on Xiaofeng!”

“I believe Xiaofeng’s leg will get better one day,” Mr. You said firmly. “The heir of the You Corporation will forever only be Xiaofeng.”

Song Zhiqiu’s lips subtly curled up in triumph, but when she looked up, she was the picture of pitiful fragility again.

“What about Xiaoting then?” she asked.

Mr. You paused, then said with a stern expression, “She is merely a temporary pawn I’m using to stabilize the company.”

Only then did Song Zhiqiu completely let go of her worries and slowly smiled.

No matter if it was that woman or that woman’s daughter.

They were still no match for her.

This was fate.

With the world as the chessboard, everyone thought they were the player holding the pieces.

But only when the mountains and seas were overturned did they realize they were nothing more than an insignificant piece.

…

…

Dreamy Southland, within the villa compound.

Tonight, for the first time, Bai Nianzhao had a bright, clean, and spacious bedroom all to herself.

The wardrobe hung with a dazzling array of new clothes, and the dressing table was stocked with all brands of skincare and cosmetics.

It was like stepping into the Barbie princess room she used to see as a child.

Such treatment was only afforded to Bai Zhenzhen back at the Bai residence.

Even an accidental extra glance from her was considered a transgression.

Sitting on the soft chair, Bai Nianzhao looked at her reflection in the mirror, her heart no longer filled only with nervousness and hesitation.

A more urgent and overwhelming emotion, like surging waves, washed over the walls of her heart repeatedly.

She slowly clenched her slender fingers.

It was the feeling—of wanting to change something.

The light illuminated the room brightly, and the mirror was clean, seemingly showing even the fine pores on her skin.

She initially involuntarily shifted her gaze, but then quickly seemed to make up her mind, staring straight at herself through the mirror.

For so many years, Bai Nianzhao had rarely looked closely at her own appearance.

Because everything about her was always suppressed by Madam Bai and Bai Zhenzhen.

Her light-colored pupils reflected the light, like gently swaying water.

Bai Nianzhao’s eyes slowly turned red, but the corners of her lips lifted high.

Because she suddenly realized that she wasn’t so bad after all.

The fear in her eyes began to dissipate, little by little.

Before this, Bai Nianzhao’s greatest wish was to safely and quietly live out her life tucked away in a corner.

She could have been a docile and obedient maid, serving You Aofeng for the rest of her life.

But You Ting told her that her value was far more than that.

Her life should never be lived for others.

The Ugly Duckling could become a swan.

Bai Nianzhao also wanted to become a better person.

At the very least, a person who could stand beside Big Sister.

The next morning.

You Ting sat at the dining table, just having wiped her hands with a damp cloth, when she saw the well-groomed young girl lightly jogging down the stairs.

Bai Nianzhao looked slightly different today. Perhaps she had tied both sides of her hair back into a neat, high ponytail.

Clean and energetic.

As she descended the stairs, her shoulders were extremely relaxed, extended to the sides. No longer was her posture one of timidity and apprehension.

It seemed she had figured something out. The invisible, dull shackles on her were visibly breaking away.

“Big Sister!” The little rabbit skidded to a stop two or three steps away from You Ting.

You Ting raised an eyebrow: “Hmm?”

Bai Nianzhao’s eyes were bright, shimmering with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

“I want…” she began, pausing briefly, then continued with a more determined tone, “I want to go back to school!”

“Alright,” You Ting only showed slight surprise with a gentle twitch of her eyebrow, then smiled, “That’s a good thing.”

She looked at Bai Nianzhao and repeated, “A very good thing.”