The Villainess is Too Clingy - Chapter 2

Aunt Wei was the woman in the human trafficking couple. When she said Fang Huiling would be starved for three days, she meant it. She didn’t care if the girl got sick or suffered, as long as she didn’t die. To them, a sick or disabled person was still useful.

That night, Aunt Wei brought them food: a single bun and a bowl of thin porridge with a few stray vegetable leaves floating in it. The weather was sweltering, and in this season, the food was bound to spoil. Tan Yin frowned and took a bite of the bun. It was stuffed with greens and already tasted sour.

From the original host’s memories, she recalled occasionally complaining to Aunt Wei about the small portions. If Aunt Wei was in a good mood, she might toss them some extra scraps. If she wasn’t, a barrage of insults and a beating were the standard procedure.

Now, seeing Aunt Wei impatiently answering a phone call at the door, Tan Yin decided not to push her luck. She forced herself to swallow the bun in a few quick bites.

This is so frustrating, she thought. Other people get cheat abilities when they transmigrate, but I’m like a stepchild—I have nothing. Instead, I’m thrown into this awful environment to do a mission I never wanted. When I get back, I’m definitely going to complain to everyone I know.

Fang Huiling had been huddled in the corner ever since Aunt Wei came in, her head buried, not making a sound as if she were asleep. A rope was tied around her neck, tethering her to the bed like a stray dog. Only after Aunt Wei had removed her belongings and relocked the door and windows did she lift her head slightly from her knees, her gaze fixed on Tan Yin’s figure.

Tan Yin was leading the children to wash up. A single plastic bucket of water had to be shared among several people. The oldest of the children were likely not even ten yet. Each one was covered in grime and dust, their faces devoid of expression, looking like soulless shells without a trace of the innocence a child should have.

Relying on the original host’s memories, Tan Yin skillfully dipped a towel in water to help the youngest children wash their faces. After everyone had taken their turn, she turned to look for Fang Huiling, only to meet the gaze from the corner.

Tan Yin walked over with the wet towel in hand. Fang Huiling lifted her face and squinted her eyes, naturally accepting Tan Yin’s care. “Sister, you’re so good to me,” she said in a soft, childish voice.

Tan Yin felt a pang of guilt and murmured a soft “Mm.” “Are you hungry? Can you hold on a bit longer?”

Fang Huiling gave a slight nod. “I’m not hungry.”

Right on cue, her stomach let out a loud growl. The little girl paused, then suddenly buried her face in her knees, her ears turning a faint red.

Tan Yin gently rubbed her hair. She stood up and opened a drawer, reaching deep into the back. After a moment of searching, she pulled out a small packet of cookies.

The original host had hidden these away. There were only two packets left, and now she was sharing one with the villain. She hoped the little girl would remember this gesture and treat her a bit better in the future.

She offered the cookies to Fang Huiling, but the child glanced at them and immediately turned her head away.

“Don’t you like cookies?” Tan Yin asked, puzzled. “These are a great flavor, and they’re not expired.”

Fang Huiling shook her head. “I’m really not hungry.”

Her stomach betrayed her again, rumbling twice more as if protesting her stubbornness.

Tan Yin stared. “…”

Fang Huiling muttered, “…I’m sleepy. Sister, can you sleep with me later? I’m scared.”

Tan Yin sighed. “…Alright.”

So the villain is just a stubborn little thing.

The windows were plastered with newspapers, leaving the room dim. Tan Yin guessed it was almost time for bed and began tidying the beds.

They were always woken up early the next day, forced to wear filthy clothes and beg on the streets. If they didn’t earn enough money, they would be punished with beatings or starvation.

The children had grown used to living in fear, and over time, they developed a fondness and trust for the gentle Tan Yin. She was happy to care for them; after all, she couldn’t do much more for them, so this was the only way she could offer them comfort.

The room had only two small beds, yet seven or eight people slept in it. Now, everyone had gathered on Tan Yin’s bed, waiting quietly for her to tell a bedtime story. This was a rare glimmer of light in their tragic lives.

As the newcomer, Fang Huiling was honored to be held in Tan Yin’s arms while she listened to the story.

Tan Yin remembered that the original host was a great storyteller. Though she hadn’t read much, she had a vivid imagination and could always weave wild and fantastical tales. But with Tan Yin in her place, she could only tell more common stories.

“Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful princess. Her skin was as white as snow, and her hair was as black as ebony…”

Tan Yin lowered her voice, telling stories for a long time, from Snow White to Sleeping Beauty, from The Princess and the Pea to The Frog Prince, until all the children had closed their eyes and fallen asleep.

Once she felt she had told enough, Tan Yin carefully got up to tuck them in. But she saw that Fang Huiling was still awake, her clear, large eyes showing no sign of sleepiness.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Tan Yin asked.

Fang Huiling answered obediently, “You’re not asleep either, Sister. I want to sleep with you.”

She’s so clingy… No, it must be that she felt insecure in this strange environment, which was why she was sticking to her like this. Tan Yin thought this made sense, so she picked the girl up, carried her to another small bed, and tucked the blanket over her stomach.

“Is this okay now?”

Fang Huiling hummed in agreement and snuggled her head into Tan Yin’s arms.

“Sister, you’re so good to me.”

Tan Yin stroked the back of her head. “Go to sleep. Good night.”

The child in her arms gradually grew quiet. Tan Yin lowered her gaze, unable to fall asleep herself.

The child before her was marked by the System as a target to be eliminated. If the villain died, she could return to her original world. But if she failed the System’s mission, she would be the one to die.

But as things stood, she couldn’t bring herself to harm the child. Fang Huiling had become so miserable and mentally twisted because of the abuse she suffered while being trafficked. That was what drove her to commit those horrific acts later on. If Tan Yin had treated her better, would she have avoided such a dark descent?

System? Are you there? Tan Yin asked mentally.

Ding! I am here. Does the Host have a question?

What do I need to do next? What is my next mission? How long will it take me to earn enough Progress Points?

Next, the Host must properly play the role of “Tan Yin.” The next mission will appear automatically at the appropriate time. Please wait patiently. Completing all missions will grant you enough Progress Points.

…

That meant she was completely stuck, forced to wait for the System’s next order. This feeling of helplessness was awful, yet she had no power to change it. After tossing and turning for hours, her exhausted body finally gave in, and she fell into a heavy sleep.

The next morning, before dawn had even fully broken, the door was kicked open. Aunt Wei’s booming voice echoed through the room. “Everyone get up! Get ready to work!”

Tan Yin dragged herself out of bed, her eyes still half-closed as she was forced into a windowless van with the others. They were driven away, the vehicle rattling along until they arrived at an unfamiliar street corner.

Tan Yin and a young girl named Tingting were old partners in this. They moved with practiced ease to their usual spot, spreading a white cloth covered in heartbreaking pleas for help across the pavement. After weighing down the corners with stones, they placed a small aluminum bowl in front and tossed in a few coins and bills to attract attention. Then, they knelt silently behind it, waiting for a kind stranger to pass by and show some mercy.

The sky was finally beginning to lighten, but the morning air was still crisp. They were dressed thinly, and Tingting shivered, letting out a soft sneeze and sniffing her nose pitifully.

The child had been sold by her family. Because she was born blind and was a girl, they said her price had been very cheap. The original owner of this body had been soft-hearted and had always taken good care of the girl. Tan Yin pulled Tingting’s small, frail body into her arms, using her own to shield her from the wind.

As for Fang Huiling, Aunt Wei, their supervisor, wouldn’t let her out yet. Who knew what kind of trouble the young lady might cause while they were out working?

Aunt Wei and her male accomplice stayed in the car, keeping a close watch on Fang Huiling while monitoring the rest of the operation through a blurry surveillance screen. Aunt Wei occasionally took calls from mysterious contacts, her voice shifting from fawning to vicious to kind, wearing a different mask for each person on the other end.

Fang Huiling watched in horror, remaining silent the entire time. She looked absolutely terrified.

This was the original host’s normal life. Tan Yin struggled through these three days, during which the System issued her no new tasks. Whenever she grew bored while begging, she would communicate with the System in her mind, trying to trigger new functions, only to discover in despair that she truly had no special abilities.

Fang Huiling had also gone without food for three whole days. Even after Tan Yin gave her the two small packs of crackers the original host had been saving, the girl’s strength visibly waned.

Finally, on the morning of the third day, Aunt Wei grudgingly gave her a small bowl of thin porridge. “You’re coming with me today,” she snarled. “Don’t even think about trying anything. My men will be watching you the whole time.”

Fang Huiling had spent the last three days in the car watching the surveillance footage. She knew exactly how many traffickers were stationed around them each day. Escaping would be nearly impossible.

Two children had been brutally beaten that night, their backs left a bloody mess after they spoke too much while begging. They were even denied dinner. In such a suffocating environment, their lives were like ants, every step was on thin ice. One wrong move could lead to an endless nightmare.

Fang Huiling was smart. She noticed all of this, which was why she cried so often—silently and desperately, her eyes filled with terror. This actually made Aunt Wei lower her guard. She thought that while the girl was a bit old, she was surprisingly obedient, which saved her a lot of trouble.

The car dropped them off at a new location, and Aunt Wei assigned Fang Huiling to Tan Yin. This was exactly what Tan Yin had wanted; she had planned to keep an eye on the girl herself. As a “newcomer,” Tan Yin’s sharp eyes immediately caught the same few faces passing by constantly.

They’re really going all out, Tan Yin thought. Three people assigned to watch us? Or four, if you count Aunt Wei.

They were on a footbridge today, right in the middle of the morning rush. Passersby hurried past, rarely sparing them a glance. Yet, a few kind souls would toss a coin or two into the small bowl in front of them. The crisp clink of metal on metal rang out, and with every coin, Tan Yin offered a heartfelt “Thank you.” But inside, she felt a wave of guilt.

She had to play the part of “Tan Yin” perfectly, yet she dreaded the thought of losing her mind if this went on too long. She had asked the System to restore a portion of her memories, desperate to know what had happened before her death. But the System informed her that the memory seal was irreversible. It could only be unlocked once her Progress Points reached a certain level, leaving her feeling utterly defeated.

“Sister, are you hungry? I think I’m a little hungry,” Fang Huiling murmured beside her, her voice small and pitiful.

Kid, you sure know how to put things, Tan Yin thought. After three days of just two crackers and a bowl of congee, you’re only “a little” hungry? She knew Fang Huiling was just complaining in her own way. Glancing discreetly at the man watching them from a distance, Tan Yin whispered, “I’ll see if I can beg for some food later. If you’re too hungry to wait, you can lean on me and take a nap.”

Aunt Wei forbade them from speaking while begging. Although she might be more lenient with Tan Yin, she wasn’t sure how much. Just in case, Tan Yin still warned Fang Huiling to try not to speak. If she had to, she should cover her mouth or keep her lips still.

Fang Huiling murmured an acknowledgment and leaned closer to Tan Yin.

Just then, a young woman in a denim miniskirt stopped in front of them. She glanced at the small bowl containing a few scattered coins, then voluntarily took a five-yuan bill from her bag, knelt down, and placed it inside.

Tan Yin quickly thanked her, then deliberately affected a child’s voice. “Kind sister, we’re so hungry. Could you give us something to eat? Anything at all!”

The young woman looked up at her, then at Fang Huiling, her expression turning surprised. “Little girl, you’re so beautiful. Are you two… were you kidnapped? If so, tell me, and I’ll call the police for you.”

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