The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 13

Wu Qing’s plan was simple: find someone to confess to Yun Can’er while Ning Xiao was watching.

If Ning Xiao truly liked Yun Can’er, she wouldn’t want her to be snatched away. A little provocation might push her to reveal her true feelings. And if she didn’t like her, the test would still be beneficial; Yun Can’er being pursued by someone else might lead to her dating a boy, effectively removing her as a rival for Shang Shaotan. Either way, the result would favor Ning Xiao.

Xu Yiyi expressed concern: “What if Xiao Xiao confesses and Yun Can’er rejects her? That would be a huge blow to Xiao Xiao.”

Wu Qing and Zhen Meng weren’t worried at all. In their eyes, who could possibly dislike Ning Xiao other than the blind Shang Shaotan?

“As long as Yun Can’er isn’t blind, she’ll accept. In the cafeteria, I wasn’t just watching Xiao Xiao; I was watching Yun Can’er too. Her gaze toward Xiao Xiao is subtle, but if you look closely, she definitely has feelings.”

With the plan set, they began searching for a boy to play the part. There weren’t many boys at Boming who could rival Shang Shaotan, but one person fit the bill perfectly. However, he wasn’t a freshman—he was a senior.

“Wu Sheng is a distant relative of mine, technically an uncle by seniority. He’s just as handsome as Shang Shaotan, comes from a distinguished family, and has excellent grades. Most importantly, he’s a good person and we get along well. If I ask him for a favor, he won’t refuse.”

The trio went straight to Class 12-1 to find him. Three beautiful girls standing at the door of a senior class quickly attracted attention. A boy walked up to ask if they needed help.

“I’m looking for Wu Sheng. Can you call him for me?” Wu Qing asked.

The boy hesitated. “Sheng-ge is solving problems. He doesn’t like being disturbed when he’s working.”

“It’s fine. Just tell him his niece is here. He won’t be mad.”

Shocked by the claim of kinship, the boy went back inside. Wu Sheng, nearly 1.9 meters tall, was sitting in the back row against the wall. When he heard his niece was outside, he immediately put down his pen and stood up.

Wu Sheng had an incredibly gentle face—fair-skinned, refined and handsome, with silver-rimmed glasses resting on his nose. Behind the lenses, his eyes seemed to hold a world of affection.

He stepped outside and smiled warmly at Wu Qing and her friends. “Qingqing, why are you here? You could have just called; I would have come to your class.”

He greeted Xu Yiyi and Zhen Meng kindly. Then, his eyes flickered as he asked seemingly casually, “Don’t you have another friend? Why are there only three of you?”

“Uncle, you hit the nail on the head. We’re here specifically about Xiao Xiao. Only you can help us with this.” Wu Qing batted her eyes pleadingly.

“Only I can help? Let’s hear it,” Wu Sheng said, his gentle eyes full of curiosity.

Wu Qing suggested they discuss it over lunch in a private booth at Cafeteria No. 7 to avoid eavesdroppers. Wu Sheng agreed.

Shang Shaotan held a weekly meeting with his friends at Cafeteria No. 7 every Tuesday. Today, he arrived alone and happened to see Wu Qing and her friends entering a booth near his usual spot. Suspicious, he entered his own booth and chose a seat right against the shared wall.

While his friends chatted, Shang Shaotan was distracted. He couldn’t hear what was happening next door.

One of his friends, Luo Kaide, nudged him. “So, it’s been two weeks since your failed confession. When are you going to try again with Yun Can’er?”

Shang Shaotan took a slow sip of tea. “No rush. With a girl who only cares about studying, you have to take it slow. She’s not the type to accept me just for my money or looks. I’ll wait until I have her heart completely before I dump her. That’s when the pain will be greatest.”

His friends praised his “brilliance,” and Shang Shaotan basked in the flattery, almost convincing himself it was true—that Yun Can’er would eventually open her heart to him.

Provided that Ning Xiao hasn’t changed! He thought, suddenly snapping back to reality.

Leaving the booth after lunch, Shang Shaotan’s group crossed paths with Wu Qing’s party. He noticed Wu Sheng was with them and stepped forward to greet him with respect. In Boming, while Shang Shaotan relied on looks and family, Wu Sheng was respected for his sheer charisma.

After they parted, Shang Shaotan felt something was off. Why was Wu Sheng eating with Wu Qing and the others without Ning Xiao? He suspected Wu Qing was asking for help with something related to Ning Xiao. He followed them toward the bamboo grove behind the mountain.

After lunch, Ning Xiao received a message from Wu Qing asking her to bring Yun Can’er to the bamboo grove.

“Can’er, come with me,” Ning Xiao said to the girl who was about to head back to the dorm. Yun Can’er nodded without question.

As they entered the grove, Ning Xiao saw Wu Sheng. She recognized him immediately from the “original plot.” Wu Sheng was the story’s primary antagonist a man with a gentle exterior but an extreme, obsessive heart. In the original book, he loved Ning Xiao and pursued Yun Can’er against his own will just to please her. Eventually, he was killed in a car accident orchestrated by Shang Shaotan.

Ning Xiao wondered if he was there to confess to her. The thought gave her goosebumps, and she began planning how to reject him without being too harsh.

“I thought Qingqing had something to say to me. Brother Sheng, why are you here?” Ning Xiao asked naturally.

Wu Sheng smiled, his eyes warm behind his glasses. Ning Xiao instinctively looked away. Yun Can’er sensed the tension and stepped closer to Ning Xiao’s side.

To create an opening, Wu Qing pulled Ning Xiao aside. “Don’t be a third wheel,” she whispered.

“What do you mean?”

“My uncle likes Yun Can’er. He’s going to confess!” Wu Qing whispered.

“Impossible!” Ning Xiao blurted out. In the original book, Wu Sheng loved her. Why would he like Yun Can’er? She suspected her friends were playing some kind of trick.

Wu Qing pulled Ning Xiao around just in time to see Wu Sheng say to Yun Can’er with deep affection: “Student Yun Can’er, I like you.”

Yun Can’er instinctively looked at Ning Xiao. Ning Xiao, out of habit, blew her a playful wink.

Yun Can’er turned back to Wu Sheng, her ears red. “I’m sorry. I want to focus on my studies right now. I don’t want to date before college.”

Wu Sheng looked at Ning Xiao. “You like her, which is why you’re rejecting me, right?”

Yun Can’er’s face turned pale. “No. I don’t like Ning Xiao like that. We’re just classmates.”

Being called out on her secret feelings made Yun Can’er terrified to see Ning Xiao’s reaction. If Ning Xiao knows I like her, she’ll think it’s disgusting. to be liked by another girl… Her eyes filled with tears.

Seeing Yun Can’er’s trembling form, Ning Xiao said displeasedly, “Brother Sheng, don’t bully Can’er in front of me.”

Wu Sheng’s eyes were deep. “So Student Yun doesn’t like Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao, what about you? Do you like Student Yun?”

Wu Qing and the others nearly cheered. What a perfect question! Ning Xiao never lied about her feelings. They were finally going to know the truth.

Ning Xiao looked at the pale, swaying girl and worried that saying “no” would break her heart. Besides, she did like Yun Can’er—she had worried about her countless times while reading the novel. And they were friends.

Ning Xiao decided. She walked over, took Yun Can’er’s hand, and smiled brilliantly at Wu Sheng. “Of course I like Can’er. After all, I’ve only ever met one girl as cute and smart as her.”

The color rushed back to Yun Can’er’s face. Her cold hand began to sweat. She looked up at Ning Xiao, her dark eyes sparkling like obsidian in the sun.

“Now Can’er is mine,” Ning Xiao said to Wu Sheng. “You can’t compete with me for her.”

Wu Sheng’s smile remained. “Of course. I would never compete with you.” He bid them farewell and left.

Wu Qing, Xu Yiyi, and Zhen Meng were vibrating with excitement. “We’ll leave you two alone!” they shouted, quickly exiting the grove.

Only Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er remained. A breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.

Seeing Yun Can’er’s flushed face, Ning Xiao worried the girl might get the wrong idea. “I’m sorry, Can’er. Brother Sheng must have been put up to that by Qingqing and the others just to tease you. I’ll scold them later.”

“It’s okay. I’m not mad,” Yun Can’er whispered, fidgeting with her fingers.

“Ahem, good And  about me saying I like you just now.  Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that kind of like. It’s the ‘like’ between friends. Do you understand?” Ning Xiao said awkwardly. She felt like she was over-explaining, making it look like she was hiding something.

The joy in Yun Can’er’s heart died instantly. “I understand,” she said in a hollow, steady voice.

It made sense. Compared to Ning Xiao, she was just an ugly duckling. There was nothing about her worth loving. Ning Xiao liked brilliant boys like Shang Shaotan. Yun Can’er had never felt the gap between them so clearly.

In the distance, Shang Shaotan was stunned.

Wu Sheng had confessed to Yun Can’er? And she had rejected him too? That was a relief for his ego.

But then Wu Sheng had asked the girls if they liked each other! And while Yun Can’er denied it, Ning Xiao actually said she liked her!

Shang Shaotan couldn’t take it anymore and turned to leave. His admirer had become his rival. No one could stay calm after that.

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