The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 37

The cameraman spoke with gritted teeth, veins bulging on his arms. “Her name is Zhao Mengting. My daughter wrote it in her diary.”

He clenched his fists tighter. “I took that diary to the police, but they told me no one could prove the entries were true. They refused to open a case. My daughter wasn’t the only victim; there were many others mentioned in that diary. I went to City No. 3 High School to track them down using their names, but I found out they had all transferred away. The school refused to tell me where they went. With nowhere left to turn, I even had extreme thoughts. I wanted to run Zhao Mengting over with my car and make her pay for my daughter’s life!”

“But…” the cameraman choked out, “Zhao Mengting transferred too. No matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t find a trace of her. Later, someone told me her family held high-ranking government positions and that they were people an ordinary man like me couldn’t afford to provoke. They told me to give up… but I can’t. If I don’t find her, I’ll never know peace as long as I live.”

Yun Can’er gently patted the man’s back before looking toward Ning Xiao. “Do you know what happened to Zhao Mengting?”

The cameraman forgot his tears and stared at Ning Xiao with wide eyes. “You… you know where she is?!”

“Don’t get too worked up just yet,” Ning Xiao said. “If I’m not mistaken, the Zhao Mengting you’re talking about is the same one who suddenly transferred into our class in the tenth grade.”

“Where is she?” the cameraman asked urgently.

“Two and a half years ago, Zhao Mengting’s father was sent to prison for corruption,” Ning Xiao explained. “She couldn’t afford the tuition anymore and dropped out of Boming Private High. None of us have seen her for two years.”

The cameraman looked disappointed. “It’s alright. Thank you for telling me something so important. I won’t stop looking for her. Karma is real. Even if the Zhao family has fallen, the hardship she’s facing now is far too small compared to what she did to those young girls. I will find her”

The cameraman didn’t say what he would do once he found her, and neither Ning Xiao nor Yun Can’er asked.

Ten minutes later, the interview resumed.

Xiao Li had stepped away to use the restroom, unaware of the heavy conversation that had taken place. However, she immediately noticed the cameraman’s blatant favoritism toward Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er.

Whenever she spoke, the cameraman prioritized keeping both girls in the frame, completely ignoring her own positioning. As a result, only half of Xiao Li’s face and shoulder were visible in the shot.

Xiao Li was forced to squeeze herself into the frame, but the more she pushed, the more the lens drifted away. Holding back her frustration—mostly out of pity for the cameraman’s earlier breakdown—she forced a smile, even if only half of it made it onto the screen.

“Student Yun Can’er,” Xiao Li began, “your grades have always been top tier. Why did you choose to take the art exams and apply for a film academy? With your scores, you could easily get into any major at Huada or Jingda, just like Ning Xiao. Why not choose a major that contributes more to social development? If you chose Physics or Chemistry, our country might gain a great scientist in the future. Many people admire your achievements but feel disappointed by your choice, believing your talent is being wasted. What is your response to that?”

Yun Can’er noted, “That feels like more than one question.”

“It’s one major theme,” Xiao Li countered. “Simply put: why apply to a film academy when your grades are this good?”

“Actually,” Can’er said, “when I heard you were coming for an interview yesterday, I guessed you would ask this. My good grades are the result of my own hard work. I love performing and I want to be an actress, so I took the art exams. My score has nothing to do with my choice; it only reflects my effort.”

She continued firmly, “I studied hard so that I could get into film academy. Now that I’ve succeeded, you’re asking me why. The reason is simple: because I love it. As for being a physicist… I think you’re overestimating me. As I said before, I’m just a ‘normally’ smart person, not a genius. Historically, only geniuses go far in scientific research. Moreover, I have no interest in Physics. Forcing myself to study it would lead to nothing but failure and burnout.”

“And one more thing,” Can’er added. “What you find ‘unfortunate’ isn’t my choice of school or major, but the fact that I’m choosing a profession you look down upon—acting. To many, an actor cannot compare to a physicist. But in reality, no profession is inherently superior to another. A physicist conducts research to benefit humanity, but an actor creates works that bring joy, sorrow, inspiration, and excitement. Through an actor’s portrayal, people can learn about our martyrs or the contributions of those very physicists. I don’t see anything wrong with my choice.”

Xiao Li opened her mouth to argue, but a sudden commotion erupted at the front door. Mother Ning went to investigate, opening the door to find a middle-aged woman and two younger women in a standoff with the security guard. The large guard looked disheveled, his arms and face covered in scratches and several buttons missing from his uniform.

Mother Ning asked coldly, “Who are you? What are you doing here? Don’t you know that trespassing on private property is illegal?”

Without waiting for them to answer, she looked sternly at the guard. “Where is your partner? Why are you alone?”

The guard winced in pain. “Mrs. Ning, Brother Yuan had a sudden stomachache and went to the restroom. As soon as he left, these three appeared and tried to force their way in without saying a word. I couldn’t hold them all back. I’m terribly sorry. If you don’t know them, I’ll call the police right now.”

“Call them,” Mother Ning said, having no patience for the intruders.

As she turned to head back inside, Yao Xiangying rushed forward. “I am Yun Can’er’s mother! I’m here to see my daughter! On what grounds are you driving me away?!”

Mother Ning paused and looked Yao Xiangying up and down, her brow furrowing. “You are Can’er’s mother?”

“What? Hasn’t Can’er mentioned us?” Yao Xiangying snapped. “Let me tell you, even if she stays at your house every day, her heart belongs to the Yun family. Don’t think you can win her over with a few sweet words!”

Mother Ning thought Yao Xiangying sounded like a madwoman, but she was still Yun Can’er’s mother. Out of love for Can’er, she decided to show a modicum of respect.

“I never said you couldn’t see her. Come in,” Mother Ning said coolly. She turned to the guard. “Cancel the police call. Contact the company to send a replacement for your shift and go to the hospital. Send the bill for your check-up and treatment to me for reimbursement.”

The guard, who had been expecting to be fired, was overwhelmed with gratitude. “Thank you, Mrs. Ning!”

Mother Ning nodded and led the way into the villa. Yao Xiangying stared at her back as if she were looking at a mountain of gold, quickly pulling Yun Baiwei and Yun Yan along. Look at this luxury! Look at how she throws money around! She thought bringing her daughters was the right move. This time, they were definitely going to squeeze some money out of the Nings!

Back in the living room, Xiao Li was packing up her equipment when she saw Mother Ning return with the three women. The middle-aged woman and the twins shared a striking resemblance, their faces practically dripping with a sharp, mean-spirited air.

Sensing a scoop, Xiao Li signaled the cameraman to set the equipment back up. He was hesitant, but Xiao Li whispered, “I know you want to protect the girls, but don’t you see who they are? That’s definitely Yun Can’er’s mother and sisters!”

“What are they doing here?” the cameraman asked. They had all heard the woman’s shrill, unpleasant voice from outside.

Xiao Li snorted. “What else? Their family is broke, and the daughter found a rich friend. They’re here to play the ‘poor relative’ and see what they can grab. I like Can’er too, and it’s a tragedy she has a family like this. Look at them—the mother and sisters are wearing brands, and those necklaces on the twins cost thousands. If the Yuns are so poor, where did they get the money for that?”

The cameraman’s voice was heavy. “Yun Can’er’s scholarship money…”

“Exactly!” Xiao Li said. “Over 550,000 yuan, and likely more, all squandered by them. It would be a crime not to report this. Let’s be the good guys today. We’ll film this and write a special feature. What do you say?”

The cameraman didn’t say a word, but he silently repositioned the camera, signaling his agreement. Satisfied, Xiao Li went over to Ning Xiao and whispered her plan. From what she had seen, Ning Xiao was someone destined for big things; she was the perfect person to consult.

Sure enough, after hearing the plan, Ning Xiao replied directly, “Do it. Even if no one buys the paper, the Ning family will buy every copy you print. Write it as truthfully and emotionally as possible. Make sure the readers feel every bit of it.”

Xiao Li pumped her fist. “Just you wait and see!”

Support The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration]