The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 24

Ning Xiao was dragged into a blind spot by the school’s security cameras by Wu Qing and the other two. At this hour, most students were in the canteen, so there was no one around to overhear their conversation.

Wu Qing and Zhen Meng were still debating how to broach the subject when Xu Yiyi couldn’t contain herself. She bumped her shoulder against Ning Xiao’s with a sly grin. “So, Xiao Xiao… are you and Yun Can’er finally ‘together’ now?”

Ning Xiao blinked, her brain failing to register the implication.

Together? Doing what? Eating?

They ate together every single day; Xu Yiyi had seen them plenty of times. Why on earth was she asking now?

“Haven’t you seen us?” Ning Xiao replied, leaning lazily against the wall with her arms crossed.

The exams had drained her; she’d spent the last two days writing and thinking far too much. Her brain was currently in ‘power-saving mode,’ so she simply took a wild guess at what Xu Yiyi meant and answered accordingly.

She had no idea what a massive misunderstanding her casual reply would cause.

Wu Qing’s eyes widened in shock. “Blimey, Xiao Xiao! You certainly move fast, don’t you?”

Zhen Meng looked equally stunned.

Only then did Ning Xiao realize something was off. “Wait. Did I say something wrong? Yiyi, what exactly did you mean by that question?”

Thinking Ning Xiao was just playing coy, Xu Yiyi nudged her again. “Oh, stop it! What else could ‘together’ mean when it comes to you and Yun Can’er?”

Ning Xiao was more confused than ever. “We’re friends. We eat lunch together every day. Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Wu Qing waved a hand dismissively. “Xiao Xiao, we already know. There’s no point hiding it from us. Honestly, we’re thrilled you’ve moved on from Shang Shaotan. We’d never stand in the way of you and Yun Can’er.”

Xu Yiyi piped up, “Exactly! It doesn’t matter that she’s a girl. It’s a hundred times better than liking that total prat.”

Xu Yiyi had been burned by a “bad boy” before and had harboured a deep-seated loathing for the type ever since. The mere fact that Shang Shaotan didn’t treat Ning Xiao with any respect was enough for Yiyi to label him a villain. Furthermore, word had reached her—via one of her admirers in Class One—that Shang Shaotan had been mocking Ning Xiao’s academic performance.

“Wait! Hold on a minute!”

Ning Xiao held up a hand to stop them. She finally understood. Her friends actually thought she was “with” Yun Can’er! In that way!

“What are you even thinking? How could it be possible between Yun Can’er?” Setting aside the fact that her character was supposed to be obsessed with Shang Shaotan, Yun Can’er was the heroine. There was no way a vicious supporting female like her could lay a finger on the lead.

Besides, they were both girls. How could two girls even be “together”?

In her daze, Ning Xiao accidentally voiced her thoughts aloud. Wu Qing immediately countered, “If men can be together, why can’t women? Xiao Xiao, I didn’t think you were so old-fashioned. If there’s mutual attraction, that’s all that matters. Does gender really have to be such a big deal?”

Ning Xiao grew even more dazed. Is gender… not a big deal?

“You said it yourself that you liked her,” Zhen Meng added. “And now you’re telling us it’s impossible? Do you really think we’re that gullible?”

Ning Xiao frowned, genuinely puzzled. “When did I ever say I liked her?”

Wu Qing grinned, as if she’d caught Ning Xiao in a lie. “Last time, when my cousin Wu Sheng tried to ask her out! You announced right then and there that you liked her~”

Ning Xiao: 

Good lord. She had completely forgotten about that incident. She hadn’t a clue what she’d blurted out that day.

Seeing that no amount of explaining would convince them, Ning Xiao checked her phone. It had been nearly ten minutes. She figured there was no harm in letting them believe it—at least they’d look out for Yun Can’er for her sake.

“Fine, fine,” she conceded. “I admit it. I do like her. But…”

Her “but” cut off their excited squeals.

“But what?” Wu Qing pressed.

Ning Xiao let out a weary sigh. “I like her, yes. But she only sees me as a friend. She hasn’t got a clue. So, for heaven’s sake, don’t go saying anything to her. If it turns out she’s not into girls, she might stop talking to me altogether, and then what would I do?”

Xu Yiyi’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Xiao Xiao. You’re so beautiful, why are you always stuck in these unrequited crushes?”

Wu Qing and Zhen Meng shared a sympathetic look. They were actually relieved she’d given up on Shang Shaotan; they’d always thought he was a berk who didn’t deserve her. Yun Can’er was different she was brilliant, gentle, and unlikely to ever hurt Ning Xiao. With Ning Xiao’s personality, she’d definitely be the one in charge, so they weren’t worried about her getting her heart broken.

“Do you want us to help you win her over?” Wu Qing asked, her eyes lighting up with mischief.

Xu Yiyi and Zhen Meng leaned in, waiting for her to say the word.

Ning Xiao rubbed her temples. “No, thank you. I’ll handle it myself. Can’er is a bit shy; I need to take things slowly. Besides, university is a much better time for romance. Right now, between the workload and the exams, there’s hardly any time to breathe, let alone date. Just promise me you won’t let the cat out of the bag.”

Once they’d promised to keep her “secret,” the four of them headed to the canteen.

Just as they walked through the doors, they ran into Shang Shaotan and his lot on their way out. Yuan Wei gave Ning Xiao a friendly smile, Luo Kaide rolled his eyes, and Shang Shaotan brushed past them with his usual cold, arrogant indifference.

Wu Qing leaned in and whispered, “Honestly, look at that absolute muppet.”

Ning Xiao couldn’t have agreed more.

They walked over to the table where Yun Can’er was already waiting. Wu Qing and the others were uncharacteristically polite to her. Zhen Meng winked at Ning Xiao and said, “We’ll leave her in your capable hands, then. We’re going to sit over there.”

The three of them scuttled off, giggling behind their hands.

Ning Xiao: So much for keeping a secret. Anyone with half a brain could see something was up.

Yun Can’er looked bewildered. She’d rarely spoken to Ning Xiao’s friends before; why were they being so friendly today? At Zhen Meng’s comment, she felt a wave of self-consciousness. She tried her best to keep a straight face, but the tips of her ears, hidden beneath her hair, were beginning to burn.

Ning Xiao sat down across from her. “They’re just teasing. Don’t let it get to you.”

“I’m not cross,” Yun Can’er whispered.

Ning Xiao looked at the spread on the table. “How did you know all of this was my favourite?”

Yun Can’er kept her head down, her fingers nervously pleating the hem of her skirt. “I suppose after eating with you every day, my tastes have just started to change.”

Ning Xiao’s heart softened. She realized it wasn’t that Yun Can’er hadn’t liked this food before, she just hadn’t been able to afford it. She placed a prawn on the girl’s plate. “Eat up then. You don’t have to hold back when it’s just us.”

Ning Xiao had already insisted on covering all of Yun Can’er’s school expenses for the next three years. Yun Can’er had insisted on keeping a meticulous record of every penny, vowing to pay her back a hundred times over in the future.

***

The first period of the afternoon was Chinese. Ms. He Yue walked into the classroom as the bell rang, clutching a thick stack of exam papers. She strode to the lectern and set them down with a heavy thud.

The entire class turned to look at Ning Xiao. She was leaning lazily against the wall, the afternoon sun casting a soft, veil-like glow over her features. She looked breathtakingly beautiful. Even those who had come purely to enjoy her downfall felt their hearts skip a beat; many blushed and turned away, unable to maintain their gaze.

Shang Shaotan raised his hand and stood up. “Ms. He, shall I read out the results for you?”

He Yue hadn’t had a chance to look at the individual scores yet. She was primarily concerned with Ning Xiao’s grade, but the lesson was about to start and she hadn’t found the paper in the stack. It didn’t matter; she was certain Ning Xiao had failed. Reading the scores aloud was the perfect way to ensure maximum humiliation.

“Very well, Shaotan,” He Yue nodded.

Shang Shaotan walked to the front with an air of cool superiority. He Yue stood to the side as he began to call out the names.

“Ou Shang, 132.” “Liu Xuening, 129.” “Li Yue, 135.”

As the teacher for the subject, He Yue ensured her class performed well; almost everyone scored above 125. She nodded with satisfaction as the numbers rolled out.

“Yun Can’er, 141.”

A score in the 130s was considered excellent; hitting 141 was staggering, even for the top student in the school. A collective gasp went through the room, and even He Yue shot Yun Can’er a look of genuine admiration.

As Yun Can’er looked up, Shang Shaotan paused and gave her a rare, gentle smile. Yun Can’er silently took her paper and answer sheet, thinking to herself: Good grief, that’s an eyesore.

Shang Shaotan’s habit was to look at the name first, then the score. As it happened, the paper immediately beneath Yun Can’er’s belonged to Ning Xiao.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. But as his eyes drifted to the score, the smile froze instantly on his face.

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