The Villain Has A Yuri Halo [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 57

“Mu Linglong, are you saying you can’t get through this door and need my fingerprint to open it?” Li Ju rubbed her temples, her frail, sickly beauty making even herself appear pitiful. Gone was the seductive charm in her eyes and brows, leaving her looking like a helpless little thing with no one to rely on.

Li Ju’s annoyed tone made Mu Linglong innocently clasp her hands behind her back. “Exactly!” Mu Linglong declared confidently. “This door requires your fingerprint. If you don’t open it, who will?”

Li Ju curled her lip into a cold smirk, her gaze dark and hostile. “You’ve got quite the tricks up your sleeve, don’t you?” she sneered. “Trying to test me with this door, aren’t you? That’s why you specifically used my fingerprint. If I opened it while you were off guard, there’d definitely be a trap waiting—maybe even you, that treacherous human, lying in ambush.”

Mu Linglong had lost count of how many times she’d been rendered speechless. She desperately wanted to crack open Li Ju’s skull to see what was inside. How could anyone conjure up such bizarre and paranoid scenarios?

“Fine, fine! Humans are all treacherous bastards! Rotten to the core!”

Li Ju’s expression was peculiar as she asked suspiciously, “Why do you seem so happy when you’re insulting yourself?”

Mu Linglong finally burst into laughter, unable to resist the urge to pinch Li Ju’s cheek.

In her eyes, Li Ju saw a reflection of emotions that left her momentarily stunned. It was as if Mu Linglong possessed some kind of magic, making Li Ju unable to resist her, even finding these intimate gestures worth cherishing.

Li Ju lowered her head, using the pretense of cleaning her glasses to break eye contact. She stated plainly, “Human, you’re trying to seduce me again.”

Mu Linglong, having learned her lesson, no longer bothered correcting Li Ju’s memory lapses. Instead, she nodded in agreement, saying, “If you can tell I’m trying to seduce you, that means you’re thinking about it too. If your heart were as still as water, without a ripple, would I even be able to tempt you? Li Ju, when will you finally see your own heart clearly?”

Li Ju glared irritably at Mu Linglong, who was practically clinging to her. Her thin lips parted to deliver a sharp retort: “I can’t understand my own heart? Then tell me, why haven’t I pushed you off me? Do you think I enjoy being a human-shaped pillow?”
Ripples of emotion spread through Mu Linglong’s heart, a response to Li Ju’s words. Had she finally earned the wind’s touch?

“You… you mean…”

Li Ju’s skin still radiated an unnatural warmth. She gently cupped Mu Linglong’s cheek with her fingertips, then tilted Mu Linglong’s face upward with a firm grip. A teasing smile played on her lips. “You locked me up here precisely for this, didn’t you? To force your way into my heart with brute force and no regard for my feelings. You even resorted to such underhanded tactics, trapping me in this room where even moving is a struggle. So, Mu Linglong, if you want me to reveal my true feelings, shouldn’t you answer one question first?”

Mu Linglong’s cheeks inexplicably began to burn. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Li Ju’s words were an explanation for her earlier actions. Has my brain been fried too? Why am I blushing like this?! Li Ju’s behavior is completely wrong!

Mu Linglong mumbled, “What question?”

“Do you like me a lot? Or maybe… do you love me?”

Mu Linglong’s face flushed crimson before Li Ju’s eyes. Her beautiful eyes darted away, her flustered expression betraying her feelings more clearly than any words could. Even if she stubbornly refused to admit it, Li Ju already knew the answer.

“Tsk.”

“I knew you humans were after me all along,” Li Ju remarked calmly, her composure grating on Mu Linglong’s nerves.

Why am I the only one feeling nervous? Mu Linglong thought, her teeth grinding. Is Li Ju getting too smug? That look on her face is infuriating!

Despite her delicate and often melancholic demeanor, Mu Linglong was no pushover. Having been pampered since birth, she had never developed a timid or self-deprecating personality. Her gentleness was merely a facade, concealing a steely resolve deep within.

Mu Linglong’s anger surged, her irritation growing with each glance at Li Ju.

Even when Li Ju was behaving normally, Mu Linglong had never warmed to her. Now, with Li Ju’s arrogance on full display, Mu Linglong was even less inclined to show her any kindness.

Li Ju’s smugness was abruptly crushed by Mu Linglong’s unexpected move. Her eyes widened in shock as Mu Linglong removed her glasses and pressed her soft lips not to Li Ju’s mouth, but to the corner of her eye.
A feather-light kiss, like a petal brushing against skin.

Li Ju stood frozen, all her earlier composure vanished. Her gaze and thoughts were completely consumed by Mu Linglong.

Mu Linglong had initially intended only to deflate Li Ju’s arrogance—after all, she was just so infuriating!

Since Li Ju had declared that this “human” was madly in love with her, Mu Linglong felt compelled to act accordingly, to live up to Li Ju’s assumptions.

But when Mu Linglong’s lips met Li Ju’s, she realized she had fallen for this touch.

The mere thought of leaving her scent and mark on Li Ju’s body, even in her imagination, filled her with boundless satisfaction.

Mu Linglong refused to be timid, contenting herself with mere fantasies. She dared to act on her desires!

Li Ju turned her head slightly to evade Mu Linglong’s lips, but the blush at the corner of her eyes didn’t evoke pity in Mu Linglong. Instead, it fueled her desire.

What began as a few tentative sips soon turned into a greedy indulgence.

Li Ju’s arms were too weak to push Mu Linglong away. She had believed she could maintain her composure until the end, then unleash a torrent of curses upon Mu Linglong.

But she had forgotten the deep-seated yearning for Mu Linglong that burned within her.

Lips and teeth intertwined, inseparable.

On the disheveled bed, only Li Ju’s glasses lay abandoned in a corner, temporarily forgotten by their owner, whose mind was entirely consumed by the woman beside her.

Li Ju lay languidly on her side, her eyes half-closed. Sweat-dampened strands of hair clung to her temples, and the flush on her cheeks radiated a captivating allure, making one want to lose themselves in her embrace.

Linglong, catching sight of this alluring scene, licked her lips in lingering satisfaction. She felt both exhilarated and sated. So this is what it feels like to tease someone, she mused. No wonder Li Ju had that expression in the bathroom that time.

Li Ju’s once-immaculate clothes were now crumpled and creased. Feeling a pang of guilt, Linglong reached out to smooth them, but Li Ju shot her a wary glance.

“What are you up to now?” Li Ju asked hoarsely.

“Just straightening your clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles. What else would I be doing? Honestly!”

Li Ju scoffed. “I bet you just want to touch me.”

“No way! I’m being perfectly proper now!”

Li Ju closed her eyes dismissively, her soft, yielding body leaving her feeling both resentful and helpless.

She would definitely reclaim her lost dignity from Linglong someday!

“Just you wait,” Li Ju growled.

Mu Linglong leaned down, her body pressing against Li Ju’s. “Are you mad?” she asked with a teasing smile. “Oh, don’t be angry! I learned all these moves from you, you know. This is just a case of the student starving the master. Even if you want to be mad at me, you can’t forget you’re the one who started it all.”

Li Ju frowned, thinking hard for a moment before shaking her head. “I don’t remember.”

“How could you forget that?!”

“Why would I remember something unimportant?”

Mu Linglong’s mood soured. That had been their first “intimate encounter”—how could it be unimportant?!

“You can’t remember the important parts from the bathroom, but you remember me dragging you into the tub? If that’s unimportant, what do you remember?” Mu Linglong grumbled, her resentment simmering. If Li Ju weren’t sick, she’d have punched her to teach her a lesson.

Li Ju replied calmly, “I remember you.”

Mu Linglong blinked, her face quickly blossoming into a radiant smile. She said coyly, “Am I really that important to you?”

So Li Ju can speak like a human after all, Mu Linglong thought. If she’d just said something nice earlier, everything would have been fine. Good thing I didn’t hit her—what if I’d hurt her?

“Just moderately important,” Li Ju replied casually. “After all, I still remember a lot of things and a lot of people.”

Li Ju’s deliberate words infuriated Mu Linglong, who smirked darkly. I knew nothing good would come out of that dog’s mouth!

“Hmph.”

Li Ju remained silent, a smile playing on her lips. She knew her next remark would upset Mu Linglong, but after Mu Linglong’s earlier behavior, a little payback was necessary.

Her statement wasn’t complete; she kept the most crucial part to herself.

It was true that Li Ju remembered many people and events, but the image that appeared most frequently in her mind was always Mu Linglong.

Even with fragmented memories, Mu Linglong’s position remained unshakable, beyond challenge or comparison.

Li Ju finally opened the door that had imprisoned them. Though she acted cautious, glancing around warily, she stepped out of the storage room without hesitation.

No one enjoys being confined, even if the outside world is fraught with danger. When given the chance to escape, few would willingly let it pass.

Li Ju shielded her eyes from the sunlight, squinting slightly as she admired the beautiful sunset.

“I’m finally out,” she murmured.

Mu Linglong’s expression was difficult to describe. Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?

Li Ju frowned in distaste. “What’s with that face?”

Mu Linglong forced a smile. “I’m congratulating you on regaining your freedom.”

Li Ju haughtily pushed up her glasses. “You should be congratulating me,” she said darkly.

“Heh.”

Li Ju pressed on. “Why did you build this underground chamber in the first place?”

Mu Linglong’s eyes glazed over. This question is a bit too difficult! As a Merman, her only supernatural ability was turning her tears into gemstones. She had no way of knowing about past events.
Li Ju noticed her silence and, her face hardening with displeasure, demanded, “What’s wrong? You won’t even answer a simple question now, will you? I’ve already let go of the fact that you locked me up—I gave you a break. Why can’t you tell me something so trivial? Or are you just trying to take advantage and run? Are you a heartbreaker?”

Mu Linglong frantically shook her head. “I’m not a heartbreaker! I never intended to take advantage of you and run. This basement… it must have been built by the landlord. It has nothing to do with me.”

“The landlord? This house isn’t yours?”

This was a question Mu Linglong could answer! “No, it’s rented,” she replied.

Li Ju’s pitying gaze left Mu Linglong utterly bewildered. “Fine,” Li Ju said. “I’ll give you a few gems. Not because I care about your rent, mind you—it’s just that I have too many and nowhere to put them.”

Mu Linglong smiled sweetly, then patted Li Ju’s cheek. “You’re so cute,” she murmured. “When you’re not being a psycho, you’re actually quite endearing.”

Li Ju stared at Mu Linglong expressionlessly, grudgingly spitting out a single word: “Get lost.”

Mu Linglong didn’t bother arguing. She glanced around the courtyard and nodded silently.

I’m sure I’m right. Li Ju couldn’t possibly have built that basement. Such a massive undertaking couldn’t have been kept secret. After all, who designs a basement like that in a normal house? It must have been constructed in secret. The only one who fits that description is the original landlord, who must have included the basement in the blueprints when the house was built. That’s the only way it could exist today.

She couldn’t help but glance at Li Ju. This woman was no ordinary human. Even her teacher seemed a bit… off.

“I’m hungry,” Li Ju whined, her hunger now tinged with resentment.

Mu Linglong took her hand and led her toward the living room. “Let’s get some food. What do you want to order?”

“I don’t want takeout.”

Mu Linglong whipped around, a sudden sense of foreboding washing over her.

Li Ju said softly, “I want you to cook for me.”

Mu Linglong asked uncertainly, “Are you sure?”

“Of course! I feel like I’ve tasted your cooking before, haven’t I?”

Mu Linglong muttered under her breath, “If you hadn’t suddenly gone crazy and tried to scheme against me that night, you would have gotten to eat my cooking.”

“What did you say?”

Mu Linglong gripped Li Ju’s hand, her eyes sparkling with determination. “Nothing! Just that I’ll cook for you myself. I can definitely do it!”

Mu Linglong soon realized she had spoken too soon. Without Li Ju’s supervision and reminders, her dishes were either so salty they could kill a person or completely lacking in seasoning—in short, everything went wrong.

Li Ju, who had been patiently waiting to be fed, reluctantly tied up her long hair and took charge of the particularly dire situation. “I’ll handle this,” she said.

Mu Linglong, feeling guilty, fidgeted with her fingers. “Will this make you feel unwell?” she asked anxiously.

“The basement weakens me,” Li Ju replied. “As soon as I leave, my strength returns. Without the scent of Merman Tears controlling me, what could possibly go wrong?”

Li Ju’s Merman persona was so deeply ingrained in her memory that Mu Linglong couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

It’s not the basement weakening you, Mu Linglong thought. It’s that you’re finally recovering.

Li Ju glanced sideways, her captivating eyes shimmering with a hint of tenderness. “Mu Linglong,” she asked, “do you think I’m being a simp?”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Li Ju turned off the burner and untied the apron from Mu Linglong’s waist. As she slipped the apron over her head, she reached behind her to tie the strings.

“I’ll do it,” Mu Linglong offered.

She tied a ribbon in Li Ju’s hair and re-braided her loose, long hair.

Li Ju felt her fingers threading through her hair, a flicker of delight crossing her eyes.
“You imprisoned me in the basement,” Li Ju said, “yet I don’t harbor any resentment. I asked you to cook to make things difficult, but your flustered attempts only made me worry, leaving me no choice but to take over. Am I just being a simp?”

Mu Linglong covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. Her crescent eyes sparkled with amusement as she teased, “Could it be that I’m the simp you’re talking about?”

Li Ju scoffed, deciding to ignore the human. I must have been blind to have softened toward her.

She diligently chopped vegetables and stirred the wok, oblivious to the tender gaze Mu Linglong fixed on her.

Li Ju’s words echoed Mu Linglong’s own feelings.

It had been quite the twist of fate: suddenly imprisoned in Li Ju’s basement, stripped of her freedom, only for her resistance to lead to an accident that harmed Li Ju.

Their memories were now intertwined, their roles reversed in Li Ju’s mind.

She was no longer a Merman, but the human Li Ju remembered.

With this shift in perspective, Mu Linglong was astonished to find that her feelings at that moment mirrored Li Ju’s exactly. This realization filled her with both joy and surprise.

Their shared thoughts meant they shared the same love.

Mu Linglong turned away, fighting back the stinging sensation in her nose. I can’t cry! If I turn into a gemstone, my whole persona will crumble!

She forced a smile to mask her tears.

She had always believed Li Ju’s affection was driven by self-interest, but now she realized she had completely misunderstood her.

“Mu Linglong.”

“Here!”

“Come set the table.”

“Okay!”
Their eyes met briefly before Li Ju coldly averted her gaze. But this time, Mu Linglong wouldn’t let insecurity cloud her mind. Instead, she grinned and teased, “Why won’t you look at me? Afraid you’ll fall for me?”

“You humans are not only treacherous and cunning, but also vain and arrogant,” Li Ju retorted sharply.

Mu Linglong placed her hands on her hips, shrugging nonchalantly. “Keep insulting me. More, please.”

After all, I’m a Merman now. Heh heh.

Li Ju frowned, her expression puzzled. “Are you a masochist?” she asked skeptically. “Do you actually enjoy being scolded that much? Well, do you like it when I hit you too?”

Mu Linglong could tell from Li Ju’s expression that she was about to say something outrageous again. With a cold glare, Mu Linglong picked up her plate and turned to leave.

Li Ju stroked her chin, muttering, “So you have a taste for the extreme.”

“Get lost!” Mu Linglong’s retort echoed from a distance, eliciting a mischievous chuckle from Li Ju.

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Li Ju gazed at the delicious meal she had prepared herself. A sudden sense of tranquility washed over her, as if the invisible hand that had been pushing her forward had finally vanished.

That invisible hand hadn’t offered help, only pressure.

Huh? What am I even thinking about?

This is so random and strange.

Li Ju brushed aside the fleeting melancholy. She didn’t know that the invisible hand was called “the plot,” nor could she have imagined that she would forget the entire storyline.

As the summer night slowly descended, stardust-like stars twinkled in the sky.

The night was gentle, undisturbed by the drizzle that often interrupted their evening meals.

“I’ve reviewed the tests, and she’s perfectly healthy,” Sai Xishi said, setting down the stack of medical reports. “Huang Mao, are you sure you’re not just pulling my leg?”

Qin Peipei glanced furtively at Mu Linglong, who was wearing a baseball cap and mask. She cleared her throat and said, “My sister’s been feeling unwell lately, and I was worried something serious might be wrong. I know you’re an excellent doctor, so I brought her here for a checkup. I’m relieved everything’s fine. Don’t worry, you’ll still get your full payment.”

Sai Xishi’s expression softened slightly. As long as the payment remained unchanged, she wouldn’t give Qin Peipei and her group the cold shoulder.

Li Ju’s eyes flashed with annoyance as she walked over and wrapped an arm around Mu Linglong’s neck. “Now what are you going to do?” she whispered. “Still think I’m crazy?”

Mu Linglong blinked awkwardly, quickly trying to placate Li Ju. “I’m the crazy one! I’m the one with the problem! Don’t be mad, let’s talk calmly. Staring like that is a bit much, don’t you think?”

Li Ju rolled her eyes and abruptly released Mu Linglong, turning to face Sai Xishi. She pulled a piece of Warm Jade from her bag—the agreed-upon payment. In the Black Market, antiques served as currency, with most transactions being barter-based. Cash transactions were rare.

Mu Linglong frowned deeply. What’s going on? Is Li Ju’s mind really okay? Or is it my own that’s gone haywire?

Over the past few days, Mu Linglong had pieced together the nature of Li Ju’s memory confusion. It seemed she had mixed up her human identity with Mu Linglong’s. Li Ju remembered her friends, colleagues, and professional knowledge perfectly well; the only problem was that she had swapped their human and Merman identities.

Could swallowing the Merman Tears have caused this mental chaos, making Li Ju believe she’s a Merman?

Mu Linglong was genuinely worried. On one hand, she feared the long-term effects of the Merman Tears on Li Ju. If it was memory confusion now, what would come next?

Sigh… I hope she’ll be alright. If not, I deserve to die a thousand deaths!

“Let’s go,” Li Ju said, looping her arm around Mu Linglong’s neck as she led her out. The intimacy in their actions was undeniable.

But Sai Xishi suddenly spoke up. “Don’t you want to ask about that man?”

Mu Linglong froze. Li Ju frowned. “Which man?”

Qin Peipei winked suggestively. “You know… that Hai Xi Mu Rongguang guy.”

Li Ju instinctively glanced at Mu Linglong. Mu Linglong quickly waved her hands in surrender. “I don’t know him! I don’t know him at all!”

Li Ju wasn’t interrogating Mu Linglong about her relationship with Mu Rongguang; she simply had no idea who this man was.

Li Ju stopped without betraying any emotion, asking in a flat tone, “What’s wrong with him?”

Ever since Qin Peipei had tried to bribe Sai Xishi into refusing to treat Mu Rongguang, Sai Xishi knew Li Ju and her group must have some history with him.

Sai Xishi readily shared the information, still wanting to maintain good relations with Li Ju.

“He spent a fortune in the Black Market investigating you,” she said. “I’d guess he’s mostly recovered by now. He’ll probably come after you again.”

Qin Peipei immediately erupted in curses. “That little bastard dares to come after my sister again? He stabbed her last time! If he shows his face, I’ll chop him into eight pieces!”

Li Ju’s eyes were dark and unfathomable, her expression hidden behind her mask.

The man’s name filled her with loathing. Whether she remembered him or not, the sheer intensity of her hatred told her he must be an enemy.

“Let him come,” she said. “I’ll be waiting.”

The palpable killing intent made Mu Linglong blink nervously.

Li Ju noticed her reaction and lowered her voice meaningfully. “Mu Linglong, Mu Rongguang… those names sound like they’re connected. I’m curious which side you’ll choose.”

Mu Linglong, your answer had better satisfy me.

Otherwise, I’ll personally show you what it’s like to be locked in a basement.

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