The Villainess is Too Clingy - Chapter 6

“Host, you are running away from reality,” the System said, its voice devoid of emotion.

Tan Yin walked along an unfamiliar path, looking up at the pale crescent moon. She replied impassively, “What? Are you going to give me another mission?”

[“Host, completing missions is the duty of every Book Transmigrator. Please do not evade your responsibilities.”]

[“System, I remember your ID is 0327. Can I file a complaint against you?”]

“Regrettably, you have no channel to complain about me. Also, my ID is 0237. You can address me directly as 0237. Thank you.”

Tan Yin trailed off. “What exactly are you? Are you sure you’re not just a figment of my imagination?”

“You can understand us as beings from another galaxy. Rest assured, Host, our intentions are not harmful. Therefore, please return to the Villain’s side so that the next mission can begin.”

Tan Yin ignored it. Right now, she just wanted to walk here in peace and savor the taste of freedom.

But the next day, reality hit her hard. Her pockets were completely empty, cleaner than her face. She had fled in such a rush yesterday that she forgot to snatch some money on her way out. Now, her stomach was growling. She refused to go back to Fang Huiling, but she didn’t know anyone else. Was she really going to have to go back to her old line of work?

City X was a rising metropolis. During the morning rush, the streets were packed with office workers hurrying to work. The breakfast stalls were swamped, the aroma of food wafting through the air and making Tan Yin’s mouth water.

She sat on the stone steps beside a stall, resting her chin in her hand. She stared blankly at the lively scene of daily life she had missed for so long, watching as time ticked by and the crowds gradually thinned.

A vendor had been watching her for a while. He noticed her clothes were frayed at the edges, and she kept rubbing her stomach in distress while staring longingly at the steamer of buns. Moved by kindness, he wrapped up two meat buns for her and asked if she was in trouble.

Tan Yin wolfed down the buns, thanking the vendor over and over without saying anything else.

On a nearby building, a large screen was broadcasting the morning news. A male anchor read the script in a standard broadcast tone, while a bold yellow headline flashed below.

“Prominent local entrepreneur Mr. Fang Yongzhong has found his daughter, who went missing two years ago. She is expected to become his new heir.”

Fang Huiling had finally gone back, a whole year earlier than planned. Was she about to start that so-called “life of sin” now? From their two years together, Tan Yin couldn’t imagine Fang Huiling ever doing the things the System had described.

She thought back to Fang Huiling’s invitation to visit and couldn’t help but smile. Would that child miss me? she wondered. She probably would.

Tan Yin didn’t want to hurt her. If leaving was the only way, then she would rather drift aimlessly for the rest of her life than endure the constant torment of her own conscience. She needed to figure out where to go next. City X was out of the question. How about City Y?

Ding!

The System’s notification chime shattered her train of thought. The sound almost gave Tan Yin PTSD, and she instinctively tensed up.

[Host, please disrupt the press conference where the Villain will appear and cause a major scene. Success will grant a 20% Progress Reward. Failure will result in an electric shock punishment and a 9% Progress deduction.]

“What?!” Tan Yin shot to her feet. The people around her stared at her sudden outburst, but she had no time to care. Leaning against a wall, she backed further into the alley and hissed at the System, “Are you kidding me?”

[ We never joke. This is a mission. ]

“Fuck your mission!” Tan Yin cursed, a rare outburst. “What’s the difference between this and asking a three-year-old to pilot a mecha? What do you mean, ‘disrupt the press conference’? I can’t even get inside! Do you want me to throw a tantrum and roll around on the sidewalk?”

“Host, please rest assured. Given the current situation, the Organization has decided to grant you a golden finger, available only on the day of the mission. You will be able to move freely through the press conference venue, and you will remain unnoticed by others until the mission is successfully completed.

“What happened to you telling me the System hadn’t developed that feature when I asked before?”

“This is a newly developed program. It truly didn’t exist before.”

“…” Fine. Whatever you say.

Of course, Tan Yin didn’t believe a word of it. She was convinced the System had just cooked up this excuse to get her to go back. A 9% penalty on her Progress for failure, yet they left her with 1% remaining. This meant that even if she failed this mission, it wouldn’t be a death sentence.

Even if I leave Fang Huiling’s side, I still can’t escape her fate of continuing to harm her? Not long ago, that girl had looked at her with sparkling eyes, inviting her to live together. Now, she had to figure out how to sabotage that girl’s important comeback press conference. Even though she was being forced into it, she still felt like a total jerk.

“Host, your feelings for the Villain are hindering your ability to complete the mission. Please do not forget that this is a novel world. Your ultimate goal is to eliminate the Villain and return to your original world.”

“…I haven’t forgotten,” Tan Yin muttered under her breath.

The news on the large screen had already switched to another topic. With nowhere else to go and nothing better to do, Tan Yin simply stayed and watched the broadcast for half the day.

*****

Tan Yin spent two nights on a hospital bench, getting by on the kindness of strangers and eating only when she could find food. Finally, the third day arrived, the day of the press conference.

The System’s “golden finger” cheat was working wonders. Today, Tan Yin hadn’t caught anyone’s eye. Even when she accidentally bumped into someone, the person just rubbed their arm in confusion and kept walking without glancing her way. She was practically an invisible woman with a physical body.

The press conference was held in a grand building. With less than an hour to go, the place was a hive of activity. The director was stationed in the studio, cameramen were busy positioning their tripods, and the host was getting her makeup done while reciting her script. Everyone was focused on their tasks, creating a sharp contrast with Tan Yin, who had nothing to do.

Looking at their neat, formal attire, she glanced down at her own gray shirt, now so thin and frayed at the edges. A sudden, powerful urge to run away washed over her. She retreated to a corner and sat quietly. No one noticed her, and no one noticed that the water in her bottle had mysteriously vanished by half.

She didn’t see Fang Huiling, nor did she want to look for her. After all, Fang Huiling was definitely doing much better than she was now.

How should I cause a scene later? she wondered. She wanted to keep her outburst within a manageable range and avoid affecting Fang Huiling’s future development. Besides, Fang Huiling was the original novel’s female lead and villain. She couldn’t let a mere accident like this hold her back.

Yes, that must be it.

At 10:00 AM sharp, the press conference officially began.

Tan Yin spotted Fang Huiling’s father, Fang Yongzhong, on stage. The man still looked young, dressed in a sharp suit and exuding the air of a standard elite. It was said that he had built his furniture business from the ground up. After establishing his own brand and company, he branched out into charitable organizations, donating a lot of money to Children of the Stars and even adopting two children. All in all, he was an entrepreneur with an excellent reputation.

However, the System had revealed an inside story that no one else knew: the Fang Family’s early days were actually involved in organized crime. Their current public image was merely the result of a thorough whitewashing.

Fang Huiling sat beside Fang Yongzhong. A nameplate with her name on it rested on the table in front of her.

Tan Yin had never seen Fang Huiling like this before. She wore a black tailored vest over an elegant white skirt, her back straight and her short black hair falling over her shoulders, held in place by a simple hair accessory. Her makeup was light, her gaze cool and sharp, her thin lips pressed together. Under the flashing lights, her calm and composed demeanor bore a striking resemblance to her father.

Just a few days, Tan Yin thought with a bitter smile. And already, the gap between us feels like heaven and earth.

This version of Fang Huiling truly had the aura of a female lead. In contrast, the soft, clingy girl she’d known before seemed like a fading dream. The System had a lot of nerve, assigning a mere cannon fodder like her to deal with a heroine of such celestial grace.

“Thank you all for taking the time to attend today’s press conference,” Fang Yongzhong announced. “I am Fang Yongzhong, the founder and current chairman of Ansheng Group. Today, I have a deeply personal announcement to make. My long-lost daughter, Fang Huiling, finally returned to me two days ago.”

His expression was grave as he spoke each word with utmost sincerity.

The room was packed, yet the only sounds were the occasional click of a camera shutter and the speaker’s voice. Everyone was completely focused. Tan Yin coughed softly twice, but no one noticed. She rose from her corner and took a few steps forward, yet not a single gaze drifted her way. The System’s “golden finger” was still working its magic.

It was a strange feeling, as if she existed in a completely different dimension. She walked down the right aisle to the front of the stage. After a moment’s thought, she located the microphone’s control panel.

I just need to make some noise, she told herself. It won’t affect Fang Huiling much. Tan Yin took a deep breath, trying to stop her fingers from trembling.

Onstage, it was now Fang Huiling’s turn to speak. Her voice was lower than usual. “On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to every police officer who worked tirelessly to help us over the past two years, as well as all the kind-hearted people in society—”

Her voice cut off abruptly. Two of the lights in the hall flickered and died. The once-silent crowd erupted into a commotion. The sound technician quickly identified the problem with the microphone and rushed to the control panel. However, he stopped dead in his tracks, pointing in shock. “Who are you? What are you doing?”

Tan Yin had been wondering if her plan had worked, but the staff member’s direct question sent a jolt of fear through her. All eyes snapped to her, and a wave of whispers broke out, threatening to swallow her whole. Her mind went blank. Suddenly, she realized her “golden finger” had failed.

Run! I have to get out of here!

The thought struck her with a single, desperate clarity. She spun around and shoved past the crowd, breaking into a sprint. The security guards were a beat slow, only reacting after she had already bolted.

Tan Yin’s sudden flight drew everyone’s attention. In that instant, Fang Huiling’s cool, aloof facade shattered. Her gaze locked onto Tan Yin, and she nearly stood up to give chase. At the last second, she clenched her fists and forced herself to stay seated.

The cameras, recording the entire scene, captured every moment. Of course, this part would be edited out before the final broadcast.

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