The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26

There was no denying the pull Tang Qingqing had on Li Ju.
Because Tang Qingqing was like a diligent little bee who had long since set her sights on this beautiful flower. Even if this flower was slow to bloom, even if her petals were late to open, Tang Qingqing had been willing to flutter her wings and wait patiently beneath the leaves until she was ready.

And now that the flower had finally released her fragrance, Tang Qingqing’s heart grew restless, her feelings pressing so urgently against her chest that they demanded an outlet.

Her brows and eyes brimmed with womanly allure, her gaze steeped in rippling springtime warmth—liquid, intoxicating. Anyone who looked into those eyes would be powerless to resist.

Li Ju’s lips curved. If before she had only wanted to tease Tang Qingqing, then at this moment, she had truly dug a pit for herself and was about to fall straight in.

Her gaze lingered on Tang Qingqing’s lips.
A dangerous impulse stirred.

She realized her own attitude had shifted. She had always clung to Tang Qingqing with the kind of intimacy and trust that went beyond ordinary friendship. After all, no one sticks to another person for no reason—unless they want something. But Li Ju had always explained it away as some kind of fledgling attachment. After all, Tang Qingqing was the only light in her blank memories, the very first face she saw when she opened her eyes.

Tang Qingqing’s special place in her life was unquestionable. Since Li Ju’s awakening, everyone had noticed the favoritism she showed Tang Qingqing. The contrast between her past bullying and her present devotion was stark. Outsiders found it amusing, even curious. But for the two of them, it was something much more complicated.

Li Ju’s partiality was no accident; it came from the heart.
She was a free-spirited person—even amnesia had not dampened her spirits. Why? Because her heart told her that forgetting the past was a gift. It meant she didn’t need to obey the commands of memory; she could listen, instead, to the voice inside.

And that inner voice said only one thing.
Be gentle with Tang Qingqing.

So she had spoiled her outrageously, until that care itself began to change.

The change had begun with the hot-milk incident.

It was then that Li Ju finally understood: the reserved, kind woman had long since harbored less-than-innocent thoughts toward her.

And once she knew, she couldn’t help but start observing Tang Qingqing differently. The strangest thing was, without even noticing, she had become the same as her.

They both harbored a “wicked heart.”

Her knee brushed Tang Qingqing’s leg. Just a tilt of her head, and she could steal a kiss from the woman in her arms.

Her lazy, sensual smile carried a playfulness, but her eyes were serious—this wasn’t just a game.

Her lips parted, her tongue swept across themn and Li Ju leaned down.

The bathroom, thick with steam and shadows, was perfect for stolen touches and whispered breaths.

But the familiar chime of the phone broke the moment, cutting off her intention.

She blinked, desire ebbing into helpless frustration, a sigh slipping from her lips.

Her hands tightened at Tang Qingqing’s waist. She pressed her forehead gently to her cheek, her voice low and soft:

“Bet it’s Dad again. You’ve had a long day too. Remember to take a bath and get some sleep, okay?”

Then she pulled away. The sudden absence of her warmth left Tang Qingqing unsteady, lips pressed tight, cheeks flushed scarlet.

Her eyes were half-pleading, half-shy, enough to unravel anyone.

Li Ju tied up her damp hair, traced a finger across Tang Qingqing’s burning cheek, and teased:

“Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.”

Tang Qingqing’s hand curled into a fist. Her voice was small, trembling:

“I’ll definitely miss you.”

Li Ju’s eyes sparkled like crushed starlight. As if rewarding her, she smiled and patted her head.

“I will too.”

The unexpected reply struck Tang Qingqing’s heart like a great bronze bell, sending echoes through her whole being until she was dizzy. She leaned blankly against the sink, so dazed she didn’t even notice Li Ju slipping away after changing.

Only after a long while did she press her face into her palms and laugh softly, uncontrollably.

*******

Li Ju wrapped herself in a wool shawl as she left, the weight of it over her thin loungewear reminding her, absurdly, of Tang Qingqing’s embrace.

Smiling to herself, she went to the study, knocked, and walked in.

“Dad, couldn’t this wait until morning? I was busy.”

Hearing his daughter’s grumbling, Li Zhen looked up, putting on his glasses with a helpless chuckle.

“Look at you. Is this supposed to be fashion? Mixing a shawl with pajamas?”

Li Ju flopped lazily onto the sofa, unbothered. “At home, who cares about image? I’m not playing the role of some glamorous designer now. I’m just a brainless idiot who wants to go back to her room and sleep.”

Li Zhen shook his head, amused despite himself. Seeing his daughter like this filled him with relief. She wasn’t obsessing over the past or desperately clawing for lost memories. He envied that kind of ease.

“Xiao Ju,” he began, voice steady, “since you woke up, I’ve told you everything about this family. You know the truth about my marriage to your mother, and about that man Gao Sheng. I don’t care if people say you kept him… as a lover. You’re my daughter and I trust your judgment. But Gao Sheng is trouble. His presence nearly shattered our peace. Your mother, she used him to sow discord between you and Qingqing. That… that was the last straw for me.”

Even a man as elegant and restrained as Li Zhen faltered when speaking about Tang Ping.

Li Ju set aside her joking, watching her father knead his brow. “Dad… are you really planning to divorce her?”

He nodded slowly. Beneath his glasses, his eyes finally showed relief, as if he’d been carrying the weight for years.

“You were curious before,” he said softly, “about what I told your mother that day to frighten her into the hospital. I didn’t threaten her. I just reminded her of something ridiculous from the past. You have the right to know.”

The tale was short, but dripping with melodrama.

Back in his youth, Li Zhen had noticed Tang Ping, even admired her. But her brother saw an opportunity. Their company was in trouble, and Li Zhen was the perfect lifeline. The problem? Tang Ping already had a boyfriend—an ordinary man with no power. So the brother bribed him, threatened him, pushed him into a scheme. With money to chase his dreams, the boyfriend agreed.

“Did my mother ever know the truth?” Li Ju asked quietly.

“Only part of it,” Li Zhen said bitterly. “Her brother made sure she thought it was all her boyfriend’s weakness, his desperation, and because I liked her, he twisted everything to drive her further from me, to make her a pawn. He sacrificed his own sister for the Tang family’s benefit. He left her no choice but to marry me.”

Li Zhen gave a self-mocking smile. “I pitied her. I saw her as the most wronged victim.”

“So all these years, no matter what stunts she pulled, you let it slide.”

“…Yes.” He looked ashamed.

He’d only ever lost his temper with her twice. Once when Tang Ruru pushed Li Ju into the pond, and once over Gao Sheng.

Li Ju exhaled deeply, sinking into the sofa. “So that hospital visit… was because you finally told her the truth.”

Silence. 

Then…

“Our family has always been upright. Even if I argued with your uncle, we stood together. But your mother… she’s always been out of step with us. She made herself, and all of us, miserable. Better to end it. But before the divorce, I had to clear my name.”

Li Ju gave him time, listening to the clock tick the hour. At last, she said gently, “I’ll respect your choice, Dad. Divorce is best for you both. At least then, you’ll both be free.”

Li Zhen hid behind a sip of tea, then changed the subject abruptly:

“Xiao Ju, should I introduce you to some promising young men?”

“…Dad, seriously?” Her eyes flew wide. “You were just talking about your failed marriage, and now you’re pushing me to get married?”

He shrugged. “I never pressured you before. But really—your taste is awful. Maybe that’s my fault too.”

Li Ju’s cheeks burned—not from shyness, but fury.

“Those were past mistakes! Can’t you let it go? Please?” She leapt to her feet, mortified.

【I’m with your dad on this one. Your taste was abysmal.】

【Seriously, what were you thinking? You had Tang Qingqing—drop-dead gorgeous, utterly devoted, ready to follow you through fire and water—and you picked him? Li Ju, were you blind?】

【And here’s the real kicker—if you liked Gao Sheng so much, why did you throw yourself in front of that car?】

【I’m so confused now. I thought you saved Tang Qingqing out of love… but then Gao Sheng shows up. Are you… gasp… the legendary two-timing scoundrel?!】

******

In just a short span of time, Li Ju felt as though she’d been hit by wave after wave of attacks. Both her body and her pride were taking damage, and though she felt wronged, she couldn’t even argue back after all, she herself had no idea what the “past her” had truly been thinking.

Her embarrassed anger only made Father Li laugh heartily. He teased, “Caught you red-handed, haven’t I? Xiao Ju, you’d better treat your old man better in the future, otherwise…”

Rolling her eyes, Li Ju tugged her shawl tighter around herself and huffed, “Comrade Li, do you have anything else to say? If not, I’m leaving!”

“Wait, I haven’t finished.”

Li Ju frowned, feeling a sting of grievance. “Dad, you are not allowed to bring up Gao Sheng again. I feel sick just seeing him—how could you think I liked him? And don’t bother introducing me to any so-called promising young men either, I won’t need them.”

Father Li held back his chuckles and finally turned serious.

Looking at his lively daughter, his voice softened. “Xiao Ju… it’s lucky you’ve lost your memories. With that stubborn temper of yours, I can’t imagine how I’d ever tell you this otherwise. I should have been more cautious. I didn’t look carefully enough into Gao Sheng’s family. When I left the company today, he stopped me—I taught him a lesson. But by chance, I found out about his father.”

As long as it wasn’t about her and Gao Sheng, Li Ju’s gossip-loving spirit perked right up.

“And? What about his dad?” she asked eagerly.

“His father is the very man who hurt Tang Ping all those years ago.”

Li Ju froze. She rushed to the desk, eyes wide. “Dad, this is ridiculous! Straight out of some dog-blood melodrama!”

Father Li nodded gravely. “Isn’t it? That father and son—one ruined me, the other nearly ruined you. I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if you’d been so blinded by a man that you cut ties with Qingqing. Then this house of ours… it wouldn’t even be a home anymore.”

At once, Li Ju slammed her palm on the desk and snapped, “Dad, how could you insult me like that! Lose my head over a man? Never! Even without the amnesia, once I learned the truth about his family, I’d never forgive him.”

Father Li merely smiled wryly, adjusting his glasses. “You’re right. I was wrong to say it. Forgive me, Xiao Ju.”

He didn’t quite know why those words had slipped out of him, nor what that fleeting image in his mind had meant. But seeing his daughter’s smile calmed him. Whatever the strangeness, it wasn’t as important as her.

Leaning against the desk with a little huff, Li Ju asked, “So? Are you going to deal with them?”

Her father gave her a gentle smile. “Leave that to me. Don’t worry yourself. And Xiao Ju—well done, with the Tang family matter.”

Smugness lit her face as she tilted her chin proudly. “Of course. I am amazing, after all.”

With those worries lifted, Father Li felt much lighter. He waved her off with mock annoyance. “Enough. Go dry your hair before you catch a chill. I even asked the housekeeper—you and Qingqing were soaking in the bath for ages. I thought you’d be done long ago, but the bedroom phone kept ringing unanswered.”

Li Ju avoided his gaze. If she’d been bathing alone, she’d have been done quickly. But with Tang Qingqing… well, who could blame her for lingering?

“Aiya, I know, I know! Stop nagging me. I’m going back now!”

“Wait.”

“What now?” she sighed, turning with a pitiful, resentful stare.

His tone softened again, heavy with meaning. “Xiao Ju, you and Qingqing are fine just as you are. That’s enough to set my mind at ease. You’re such a contrary child—I used to think you couldn’t stand her, always bullying her just because she was too gentle to fight back. But now…”

He still remembered the panic of that phone call. He didn’t dare imagine life without Li Ju. But heaven had spared him his daughter—and spared another child as well.

Li Ju rubbed her nose, mumbling, “I won’t bully her anymore. In fact… I really like her. Not just now.I believe the old me must’ve liked her too.”

Her voice grew softer. “When I opened my eyes and saw her, all I could think was how good it felt to be alive. Part of it was relief I’d survived, but another part… it felt like I’d been set free. Strange, isn’t it? I can’t explain it.”

Her father laughed warmly. “Silly child. All that matters is you made it through that crash.”

Li Ju smiled faintly, whispering inside to A’Ci: Come on, you too. Share this gratitude from me and Dad.

【Hehehe, I didn’t actually do much—it was mostly the host’s strength! I just caught the scent of the parasite. Its taste is nothing like love’s, but both are delicious all the same.】

“Dad… if I had died…”

His face darkened, and he shooed her away with a wave. “Don’t you dare talk like that! Get out of here, you jinxed child.” Li Ju’s words stirred his anger toward the drunk driver all over again. He would find a way to make that man pay.

Pouting, Li Ju left the study, cheeks puffed in grievance. She hadn’t meant it seriously.

But her father’s reaction made her think of Tang Qingqing again. Li Ju did have a habit of dancing on the edge of danger—something she might’ve inherited from Tang Ping herself.

【If the host dies… then this family won’t exist anymore either.】

********

Humming a little tune, Li Ju wandered back toward Tang Qingqing’s room. She pushed the door open stealthily, only to find it empty.

“Huh? Where’d she go?”

Confused, she returned to her own bedroom, too preoccupied to notice much else. Her mind was already full of Qingqing. Still in the bathroom?

Tilting her head at the darkened bath, she crossed to the bed and flopped down heavily.

It hadn’t even been that long, yet she already missed her.

The sensation was new to her—Li Ju, who was ignorant of so much, could hardly rein it in. Asking her to control her heart was like asking a child to master desire itself—impossible.

So once she tasted the flavor of longing, she couldn’t stop craving more.

Longing was love. And love, once begun, was an addiction.

Curling up, she sighed miserably.

The house was far too big. If there were only two rooms, she’d never have trouble finding Qingqing.

She rolled over, and then suddenly pushed herself up on one elbow.

Surprise!

Just when she thought she was losing it, Qingqing had been here all along.

【Ooooh, Sleeping Beauty.】

【Host must be so happy. No need to say it—I can already smell it, the sweetness spilling off you.】

【Humans really are strange. Before, your “love scent” was so faint. But since that day, you’ve been like a different person.】

Smiling, Li Ju propped her chin in her hand, watching her sleep. Strange? Not at all. Back then, she simply hadn’t known what place to give Qingqing in her heart. She’d risked her life behind the wheel to save her, that meant something. Maybe the old her already knew. But the new her needed time.

And it was Qingqing’s secret, steadfast love that had awakened her.

Now she knew. Qingqing belonged in her heart.

【What are you thinking, silly girl?】

“I was just thinking… if only my bed were smaller. Then I wouldn’t have had to roll over to finally see her here.”

【…You’re unbearable. I like big beds! I want to roll around!】

Giggling, Li Ju poked Qingqing’s cheek. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, soft with warmth that made Li Ju bury her face in her arms in a panic.

“You’re awake?” she mumbled.

“I never fell asleep.”

Li Ju gasped. “Then you saw what I was doing just now?!”

“Yes.”

“So embarrassing…”

Qingqing’s voice was tender. “Not at all. It was cute.”

Curious, Li Ju tilted her head. “Do you think everything I do is cute?”

“Pretty much.”

“Even when I used to bully you?”

Qingqing’s smile deepened. “Yes. Still cute.”

Li Ju made a face, sticking her tongue out. “Then I suppose if I died, you wouldn’t find that cute.”

For the first time, Qingqing’s face hardened. Her eyes went cold, sharp with reprimand—no warmth, no indulgence.

“Li Ju. That’s too much.”

Li Ju only beamed brighter. Even in the dim light, her radiant grin was impossible to ignore.

【You’re courting death! And still laughing!】

Throwing herself forward, Li Ju looped her arms around Qingqing’s neck, pouting sweetly. “Don’t be mad, hmm?”

She knew she was pushing her limits. But provoking anger was her way of testing, of confirming she mattered.

And she adored the proof in Qingqing’s fury and worry—it made her feel wanted.

Her father could handle his own temper. But Qingqing… she was the one flame Li Ju wanted to soothe.

The warmth of the heating wrapped them, skin pressed to skin without a trace of chill.

Li Ju clung to her, studying that frosty face. Then, with the next breath, she leaned in and stole a kiss.

Her words were muffled, tangled in the brush of lips.

“Don’t be mad, Jie… cool off.”

Support The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration]