The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 28

Yun Can’er’s heart gave a violent thud. Heat flooded from the tips of her ears down to her neck. She caught Ning Xiao’s hand and spun around. “Ning Xiao! You’re back already!” Her dark eyes were shimmering, filled with a radiant surprise.

Ning Xiao laughed. “I wanted to get back as quickly as possible, so I stayed in the lead the whole way. I was the first one across the line.”

The light in Yun Can’er’s eyes flickered. “Why the rush to get back?” she asked softly.

“Why else?” Ning Xiao didn’t overthink it. She gave Yun Can’er’s nose a playful tap. “So I wouldn’t miss your event, of course. I wanted to be back in time to cheer you on.”

A sudden, brilliant light erupted in Yun Can’er’s eyes. Ning Xiao froze for a second, feeling a strange flutter of panic in her chest. She didn’t let herself dwell on the cause; she simply found it impossible to maintain eye contact.

On the basketball court, a Year 11 student was in the middle of a fadeaway jumper. He caught a glimpse of Ning Xiao out of the corner of his eye, and his movements faltered. The ball fell short, only making it halfway to the hoop. He nearly tripped as he landed, caught just in time by a teammate.

“Keep your head in the game,” the captain barked, patting him on the back.

“Sorry.”

But even after the apology, his performance was dismal. He was constantly distracted; a player who usually never missed was now shooting at thirty percent. His teammates were flabbergasted. Eventually, he was subbed out. Despite the replacement’s best efforts to close the gap, the lead was too great to overcome. Year 10 claimed the victory.

Unlike the other events, which were class-based, the basketball and football matches were inter-year competitions. Each grade selected their best players from various classes to form a representative team. For Year 10, Class One had two spots: Yuan Wei and Shang Shaotan.

As the match ended, Shang Shaotan draped an arm over Yuan Wei’s shoulder and walked toward the sidelines, laughing. As they passed behind the Year 11 bench, they happened to overhear the PE teacher giving a student a proper dressing down.

“You’re usually brilliant! Why did you fall apart in the middle of a match? You say you were distracted distracted by what?! What on this court could possibly be more important than the game?!”

The tall student flushed beet-red, hanging his head like a kicked puppy. Yuan Wei, curious to know what could have caused such a lapse, pulled Shang Shaotan to a stop.

***

The lad stammered for ages, unable to find the words. Shang Shaotan, losing patience, tried to drag Yuan Wei away.

“I was looking at her.” the student finally blurted out.

Shang Shaotan followed the boy’s gaze. He saw Ning Xiao with her hands on Yun Can’er’s shoulders. The two were talking, but Ning Xiao suddenly pulled back, putting distance between them.

Shang Shaotan’s eyes lit up. Could it be? Has the exorcist finally driven the ghost out of her body?

“Come on, let’s go over,” Shang Shaotan said, striding toward them.

Yuan Wei blinked, then hurried to catch up. He found it bizarre; usually, Shang Shaotan avoided Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er like the plague. Why was he suddenly so eager to approach them?

Stopping a few paces away, Shang Shaotan slowed his pace. He walked up to them, pointedly pretending not to see Ning Xiao, and gave Yun Can’er a charming nod. “Can’er, what a coincidence.”

Yuan Wei, trailing behind, thought: He’s having another episode. What am I supposed to do with him?

Yun Can’er replied flatly, “Hardly a coincidence. All the girls from our class are here.”

Shang Shaotan paused, then put on a soulful expression. “Even if everyone else is here, my eyes see only you.”

On the surface, he was flirting with Yun Can’er; in reality, he was watching Ning Xiao for a reaction. When he saw her brow furrow in annoyance, his heart leaped with joy. The ‘old’ Ning Xiao is back!

He raised his chin, tucking one hand behind his back as he waited for Ning Xiao to fly into a jealous rage at Yun Can’er. He planned to step in and stop her just as she was about to strike, it would look suave and heroic. Ning Xiao would be even more obsessed with him, and Yun Can’er wouldn’t be able to help falling for him.

Ning Xiao watched his theatrical posturing with utter disbelief. Her frown deepened. “Shang Shaotan, I truly wonder how you grew up to be like this. Do you actually believe you’re some charismatic protagonist of the world? Don’t you realize you look like an arrogant muppet?”

She no longer cared about “OOC” (out-of-character) behavior. She was going to say whatever made her happy.

Shang Shaotan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. This isn’t right. Has she not returned to normal?

“You. Ning Xiao, you!” He pointed a trembling finger at her, speechless with rage.

Yuan Wei, terrified his best mate and his crush were about to have a full-blown row, grabbed Shang Shaotan and dragged him away. Once they were a hundred yards clear, Yuan Wei helped him catch his breath. “Shaotan, what is wrong with you? Why do you keep picking fights with Ning Xiao? She’s stunning, she likes you, she hasn’t done anything to deserve this. I don’t get it!”

“She liked me in the past!” Shang Shaotan snapped. “Look at her now! She insults me every time she opens her mouth. I don’t care how pretty she is! Besides, I like Yun Can’er now. What does Ning Xiao have to do with me?” He looked disgusted. “I’m a man who values inner character.”

Yuan Wei: “Ning Xiao is first in the year. Is that not enough ‘inner character’ for you?”

Shang Shaotan’s face stiffened. Being outscored by Yun Can’er was one thing, but being crushed by Ning Xiao was a lifelong humiliation.

“Look,” Yuan Wei advised, “you like Yun Can’er. Fine. But Ning Xiao and Can’er are best friends now. Even if it’s just to get on Can’er’s good side, you shouldn’t be constantly antagonising Ning Xiao. One word from a best friend can ruin a bloke’s chances for good.”

Shang Shaotan remained silent, his face stony as he pulled out his phone to message the “Exorcist Master.”

Shang Shaotan: Master, why is the ghost still in Ning Xiao’s body?

Master Liu: Video

Master Liu: Alas, the evil spirit in that girl is too powerful. I was injured during the exorcism. I require eighty-one days to recover. If you still need me then, I shall try once more.

Shang Shaotan: 

He wasn’t a total fool. This “Master Liu” was talking absolute rubbish. Did he think those flamboyant gestures in the video would convince him he was actually an exorcist?

Shang Shaotan: Since you failed, send the money back. I’ll pay you again if I hire you next time.

Master Liu: 

Shang Shaotan: ?

You are not a friend of ‘Master Liu.’ Please add him as a friend to send a message.

The man had blocked him.

Shang Shaotan had already looked into the man’s background before hiring him; being blocked wouldn’t stop him from finding the fraud. The fact that the man had blocked him only confirmed his suspicions: the “Master” was a charlatan who used actors for his “successful” exorcisms. Since he was a common fraudster, Shang Shaotan wasn’t afraid to go after him. No one made off with his money and got away with it.

He tucked his phone away, his expression dark. He had intended to use Ning Xiao’s jealousy to play the “hero” for Yun Can’er, but Ning Xiao had changed so fundamentally that she was no longer of any use to him. There really was no point in continuing the feud.

“Shaotan?” Yuan Wei nudged him. “You alright?”

“Fine,” Shang Shaotan said coldly. “From now on, I’ll just avoid her.”

Yuan Wei was relieved. His best mate on one side, his crush on the other he finally didn’t have to choose. “Exactly! We’re grown men; there’s no need to bicker with schoolgirls. Glad you’ve seen sense.”

Ding! Male Lead’s Malice Level is below 50%. Protection Mode deactivated.

Ning Xiao: What? Did he just see sense because I insulted him? Or is he too scared to cross me again?

System 13579 was in awe: Host, he has indeed seen sense. The probability of his Malice Level hitting 100% again is now effectively zero.

Ning Xiao: Good. One less headache to deal with.

*****

While Ning Xiao’s troubles were over, Yun Can’er’s were just beginning. Shang Shaotan hadn’t given up on her; he was simply switching tactics, looking for others to bully her so he could step in as the “white knight.”

At two in the afternoon, the girls’ 100-metre swimming race began. Yun Can’er was representing Class One. In her black swimsuit, her thin frame looked even more delicate. She swam like a tiny, hungry fish, pausing frequently to catch her breath. She was quickly overtaken and left at the very back.

The girls from Class One had cheered themselves hoarse all morning; their voices were gone, and they could barely yell for her. When the girl in second-to-last place reached the finish, Yun Can’er was only halfway there. By the time she finished, the medals had already been awarded. Only Ning Xiao was waiting for her.

Yun Can’er climbed out of the pool, looking miserable. Ning Xiao draped a towel over her. “What’s that long face for?”

Yun Can’er glanced at the empty pool. “Where is everyone?”

“They’ve gone to cheer for the next event.”

Yun Can’er lowered her head, sounding crestfallen. “I let the class down.”

“Don’t be daft,” Ning Xiao said, ruffling the girl’s wet hair. “You did brilliantly. It’s the best you’ve ever swum. Besides, this isn’t on you it’s Shang Shaotan and He Yue’s fault. They should have checked what you were actually good at before signing you up for swimming. It’s entirely their blunder.”

“But I like swimming,” Yun Can’er sighed. “I’ve been practicing so hard. Why am I still so bad at it?”

Yun Can’er had a fiercely competitive streak when it came to certain things. Ning Xiao had run a marathon in two and a half hours just to get back and cheer for her, yet here she was, coming dead last.

Ning Xiao pinched her cheek. “If you want to be good, you need practice. You’ve only been at it a month. The girls you were racing against have been training for years. There’s no comparison. Tell you what since we don’t have evening study during the sports meet, I’ll come and practice with you every day.”

Yun Can’er’s eyes lit up. “Can we start now?”

Ning Xiao laughed. “Of course we can.”

The swimming hall was empty now, save for the two of them. Yun Can’er shed her towel and plunged back into the water, her dark eyes shining. Ning Xiao crouched by the edge. “I never knew you were so impatient. Wait for me; I’ll change and join you.”

Ning Xiao had her own private locker at the pool. She changed into a black lace swimsuit that accentuated her curves, making her look both mysterious and captivating. When she returned to the poolside, Yun Can’er was still waiting.

Seeing Ning Xiao’s porcelain skin and the deep curve of her cleavage, Yun Can’er’s eyes flickered, and she instinctively looked away, her cheeks flushing. She looked down at her own flat chest, and a wave of self-consciousness washed over her.

“What are you thinking about with your head down like that?” Ning Xiao teased, tapping her forehead.

Yun Can’er looked up, only to be met with a view of smooth, pale skin that made her heart skip a beat. She stared, momentarily lost for words.

“Do I look good?” Ning Xiao asked, puffing out her chest slightly. To her, girls comparing figures was perfectly normal.

She didn’t expect Yun Can’er to suddenly let go of the pool edge and start splashing frantically in the water.

“Can’er!” Ning Xiao dove in immediately. The moment Yun Can’er felt Ning Xiao’s touch, she stopped struggling, allowing Ning Xiao to hook an arm around her waist to keep her steady.

Yun Can’er had swallowed some water; her eyes were red and she looked utterly pathetic. “Ning Xiao.”

“How were you so careless?” Ning Xiao said, her voice full of concern.

Yun Can’er lowered her head in shame, but her eyes landed on a expanse of white skin again. Her limbs felt numb, her body went weak, and she found herself leaning against Ning Xiao, unable to move.

“Can’er? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine,” Yun Can’er stammered, her eyes darting everywhere to avoid looking at her friend.

Because Yun Can’er was so unsteady, the private lesson ended early. She sat on the edge watching Ning Xiao swim a few laps before they both changed back into their uniforms and left.

The Sports Day ended with Class One taking the top score for the Year 10 group, securing their place as the “Model Class” for the term. He Yue was in a fantastic mood for several days until the Academic Affairs Office informed her of a new transfer student.

“Mr. Fang,” she argued, “our class currently has exactly forty students. There’s no need to add more. It was bad enough when you forced Ning Xiao into my class, but now a transfer student too? What is Class One becoming? I refuse!”

Mr. Fang Lei gave his usual genial smile and adjusted his glasses. “Ms. He, I’m not trying to make things difficult. You have to understand, this student’s background is quite extraordinary. The higher-ups have insisted she join Class One. What am I supposed to do?”

He Yue frowned. “Which shareholder’s child is it this time?”

“Actually, she isn’t a shareholder’s child.”

“Then she has political connections?” He Yue’s tone shifted.

Fang Lei remained mysterious. “I can only tell you one of her identities.”

“And that is?”

“She is the future daughter-in-law hand-picked by the head of the Shang family.”

He Yue: “Shang Shaotan’s fiancée?” Wealthy families were truly something else arranging marriages before the children had even finished school.

“Not quite a fiancée yet,” Fang Lei corrected. “They just want the two children to spend time together and build a rapport.”

He Yue was outraged. “What do they think this school is? What do they think Class One is? A dating agency? No! I won’t have it. If they want to build rapport, fine transfer Shang Shaotan to Class Ten and they can spend all the time they like together!”

In He Yue’s mind, this transfer student sounded even worse than Ning Xiao. She stood up to leave, but Fang Lei stopped her.

“Ms. He, listen to me. Just one month. Let her stay in Class One for a month. If she fails the next monthly exam, she’ll be moved to Class Two. This girl has a powerful background; you can’t afford to offend her. Ning Xiao is easy-going, but if you cross this one, you might lose your teaching license altogether!”

He Yue’s face turned ashen. “Fine. One month.”

When the second monthly exam ended, He Yue’s face was still stormy as she strode into the classroom. The students knew she’d been in a foul mood lately, and when they saw a girl with a “baby face” following her in, they understood why. It was the Ning Xiao situation all over again.

“Introduce yourself,” He Yue said coldly.

The girl didn’t seem to mind the teacher’s attitude. She stepped onto the lectern with a cute, dimpled smile. “Hello everyone! My name is Zhao Mengting. I’ve just transferred to Bo Ming. I’m very outgoing and friendly. I happen to like gentle, refined boys, so if you fit the description, feel free to come and woo me” She finished with a playful wink.

Silence.

The studious teenagers of Class One had never encountered a girl like this. They had no idea how to react, and the atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

Zhao Mengting pouted. “Don’t you think my introduction was cute? Where’s the applause?”

A few boys tentatively started to clap. He Yue cleared her throat. “Right, this isn’t a comedy club. No need for applause. Zhao Mengting, take a seat in the first row.”

Since Zhang Yue had been moved to Class Two, the seat next to Yun Can’er was vacant. He Yue had been debating who to move there, but now the problem was solved. She knew Yun Can’er had incredible focus and wouldn’t be distracted by whoever was sitting next to her.

Zhao Mengting looked at Yun Can’er’s face and nodded with satisfaction. “Thank you, Ms. He.” This teacher has good sense, she thought. Giving me such an ordinary-looking deskmate will only make my beauty stand out more.

She skipped down to her seat. Throughout the entire Chinese lesson, she didn’t take in a single word. She knew she was only here to build a connection with Shang Shaotan; grades didn’t matter when her family could send her to any elite university abroad they liked.

When the bell rang, He Yue left instantly. Yun Can’er began tidying her notes. Zhao Mengting poked her arm. “Excuse me?”

Yun Can’er looked up, confused. “Yes?”

Zhao Mengting blinked her big eyes, her baby face looking round and adorable. “I need the toilet, but I don’t know where it is.”

“Oh.” Yun Can’er nodded. She pulled a piece of paper from her desk and spent two seconds sketching a simple floor plan. She slid it toward the new girl. “This is our classroom. Go out, turn left, and go to the end of the hall. That’s the girls’ toilet.” Then, she went back to her notes.

Zhao Mengting gritted her teeth. This ordinary-looking girl was completely socially inept! She had practically spelled out that she wanted her to come along, and all she got was a hand-drawn map!

“But I’m a bit nervous going alone,” Zhao Mengting said piteously. “Could you come with me?”

Yun Can’er didn’t stop writing. “Sorry, I haven’t got the time.” It was as blunt as a rejection could get.

Zhao Mengting nearly snapped. She had spent her whole life using her “cute” face to charm both boys and girls; she had never met anyone so immune to it. Since you want to be difficult, don’t blame me for being unkind, she thought, shooting a dark look at Yun Can’er.

She had transferred to Bo Ming not just for Shang Shaotan, but because she’d been bullying students at her old school. After a dozen parents complained to the Education Bureau, her family had moved her to protect her reputation.

As she was plotting how to “teach” Yun Can’er a lesson a pleasant female voice rang out from above. “Can’er, come to the toilet with me.”

Zhao Mengting smirked inwardly. Hah, she won’t go.

“Of course, Ning Xiao! I was just thinking of going myself.” Yun Can’er dropped her pen without a moment’s hesitation and stood up, stepping around Zhao Mengting’s chair.

Zhao Mengting stared, nearly choking on her own fury. What kind of bizarre creature is this girl?! Ignoring her beautiful, cute deskmate for that girl?

She looked up and caught sight of Ning Xiao’s face. Her heart sank. Is there someone in this class prettier than me? This isn’t right! She felt a surge of professional jealousy. Her plan to become the class sweetheart was in jeopardy.

She glared at the pair, but the moment Ning Xiao looked her way, she immediately put on her most innocent, adorable smile.

Outside the classroom, Ning Xiao asked, “What do you think of the new girl?”

Thinking of Zhao Mengting’s “cute” act, Yun Can’er felt a sense of unease. “She seems alright. She doesn’t seem very interested in studying, though. She spent the whole lesson daydreaming.”

She was subtly “poisoning the well” regarding the new girl.

“Yes, she’s a bit strange,” Ning Xiao agreed. “Stay away from her. Don’t talk to her unless you have to.”

Zhao Mengting’s smile was cute, but her eyes were cold. “Innocent”? Only someone truly naive would fall for that.

Yun Can’er nodded obediently. “Alright.”

Ning Xiao laughed. “You aren’t even going to ask why? What if I’m wrong about her?”

Yun Can’er looked her in the eye. “I trust you.”

Ning Xiao was momentarily dazed by the intensity in those dark eyes. When she snapped out of it, her cheeks felt warm. She reached out and covered Yun Can’er’s eyes.

“Ning Xiao?” Yun Can’er asked, though she didn’t try to pull her hand away.

Ning Xiao let go, her expression carefully neutral. “Did I startle you?”

“No,” Yun Can’er replied. “Because I knew it was you.”

Ning Xiao let out a sharp breath. For a second, she genuinely thought her heart might leap out of her throat. She hadn’t realized Yun Can’er’s “sweet talk” could be so powerful.

She almost thought she’d felt a spark. Almost.

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