The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 58

Yang Yuanqi knew his roommate had a bit of a righteous streak. Fearing he might clash with Ning Xiao for the sake of the young mistress; he quickly tucked his phone away and left the office early.

As luck would have it, Yang Yuanqi got stuck in traffic and arrived at Haihe Mall thirty minutes late. Not knowing where Zhuang Yuzhen was and getting no answer to his calls, he could only wander aimlessly from floor to floor, hoping for a chance encounter.

Another half hour passed before Zhuang Yuzhen finally called back.

“Yuzhen, you didn’t do anything reckless, did you?” Yang Yuanqi asked frantically.

Zhuang Yuzhen replied, “Ning Xiao came to the mall to pick up her stepdaughter. There’s no ‘little boyfriend’ at all. Don’t go making wild guesses about things you’re not sure of in the future!”

Yang Yuanqi: “My bad.” Wild guesses really were dangerous. Still, was President Ning actually that doting toward the young mistress?

When Ning Xiao drove to Haihe Mall, it was exactly five o’clock. After parking the car and entering the mall, she called Yun Can’er. This time, the call was answered on the first ring.

“Hello? Are you here already?” Yun Can’er’s voice, as bright and clear as a lark’s, came through the phone.

Ning Xiao’s grip on the phone tightened slightly. “Mhm, I’m on the first floor. Where can I find you?”

“Qiqi and I are at the accessory shop on the third floor; the same one we went to yesterday.” After saying that, Yun Can’er lowered her voice. “Come rescue me, quick. I really can’t shop anymore.”

Ning Xiao’s red lips curled into a slight smile. “Stay there.”

Taking the elevator to the third floor, Ning Xiao found the shop. Just as she stepped outside, the sales assistant recognized her and greeted her enthusiastically. “Ma’am, what would you like to buy today? Let me show you around!” After all, this was a major client!

Ning Xiao smiled politely. “I’m not buying anything today; I’m here to find someone.”

The assistant’s eyes showed a flicker of disappointment, but she still welcomed Ning Xiao inside warmly. “Who are you looking for? I can help!”

In the corner, Yun Can’er had been watching for Ning Xiao. Seeing her enter, she immediately ran over and grabbed her hand. “You’re finally here!”

Ning Xiao ruffled Yun Can’er’s seaweed-like long hair and said to the assistant with a smile, “Thank you, I’ve found her.”

Yun Can’er took Ning Xiao’s hand off her head but didn’t let go. Instead, she pulled her further into the shop, whispering as they walked, “Qiqi is being even worse than you were yesterday. She’s about to buy up every accessory in every color except pink!”

Ning Xiao: “Oh? Why not pink?” Was there actually a girl who didn’t like pink?

Yun Can’er stopped and turned with a smile. “You bought all the pink accessories yesterday. There’s only other colors left in the shop. Even if Qiqi wanted them, she couldn’t buy them.”

Her dark eyes caught the light, sparkling beautifully.

Ning Xiao was dazed for a moment. Recovering herself, she said casually, “You two are friends, and you have plenty. If Qiqi likes them, you can give her a few of the pink ones.”

In the original novel, Lu Qiqi was Yun Can’er’s only friend. When the truth about the male lead’s approach was revealed, it was Lu Qiqi who saved Yun Can’er after her suicide attempt. Having spent a few days with Yun Can’er, Ning Xiao’s fondness for her was skyrocketing, so naturally, she hoped Can’er would maintain a good friendship with Qiqi.

To her surprise, as soon as Yun Can’er heard this, her smile vanished. She gave Ning Xiao a displeased glare, turned around, and stomped away in a huff.

Ning Xiao had no idea why she was suddenly angry. Just as she was wondering if she’d said something wrong, the cheerful mechanical voice of System 13579 rang in her ear.

【Ding! Female Lead’s current Blackening Value is 10%! If the value reaches 100%, Blackened Mode will be activated! Please proceed with caution, Host!】

Ning Xiao:

This Yun Can’er didn’t just share the same name as her wife back home; even the reasons for her rising blackening value were equally baffling. With a touch of helplessness in her eyes, Ning Xiao hurried to catch up.

Yun Can’er looked back and glared at her again. She was fuming. These were things Ning Xiao had taken the initiative to buy for her, and now she was being told to give them away? What did Ning Xiao take her for!

Anger quickly turned into grievance. With reddened eyes, Yun Can’er tugged at Lu Qiqi, who was trying on a hat. “Qiqi.”

Hearing the sob in Yun Can’er’s voice, Lu Qiqi immediately put the hat down. Seeing the girl’s teary eyes, she asked anxiously, “Can’er, why are you suddenly crying?! Did someone bully you?”

Yun Can’er pursed her lips and remained silent, casting a quick glance beside her. Only then did Lu Qiqi realize Ning Xiao had arrived.

“President Ning, Can’er is your junior after all. She hasn’t done anything wrong; how can you just bully her like this!” Lu Qiqi said accusatorily.

Ning Xiao: I haven’t done anything wrong either.

Yun Can’er pulled Lu Qiqi’s pointing hand down and whispered with her head bowed, “Qiqi, don’t blame her. It’s my own fault.”

She felt she was being too petty, refusing to share the gifts she had received.

But hearing this only made Lu Qiqi angrier. “Can’er has a soft personality, but that’s no reason for you to bully her whenever you want!”

Just then, Zhuang Yuzhen made his way to the third floor and happened upon the three of them. Hearing Lu Qiqi’s loud accusations, he immediately stepped inside, moved to Ning Xiao’s side, and stared sharply at Lu Qiqi. “Apologize to her!”

As a powerful CEO, Zhuang Yuzhen’s gaze was piercing and his aura formidable. It was enough to make the two young women tremble; they nearly burst into tears.

Ning Xiao spoke to the man with displeasure, “What are you doing? Don’t you know you should be gentle when speaking to girls?”

The intimidating aura around Zhuang Yuzhen instantly dissipated. He looked at Ning Xiao, somewhat at a loss. “I thought they were bullying you. Are you alright?”

Ning Xiao sized him up and asked the system: [Xiao Qi, is this the male lead, Zhuang Yuzhen?]

【Yes, Host.】

[His looks are pretty average. What does Yun Can’er see in him?]

【She likes his sense of justice.】

[Tsk.] Ning Xiao remained noncommittal.

“I’m fine. There was just a misunderstanding between us. It’s best not to involve yourself in matters between women,” Ning Xiao said warmly, trying not to break character now that she knew his identity.

Zhuang Yuzhen’s handsome face flushed slightly. “I’m sorry, Xiao Xiao. I was too impulsive.”

“You should be apologizing to Can’er and Qiqi, not me,” Ning Xiao said with a smile.

After Zhuang Yuzhen apologized, Lu Qiqi said, “No need to rush the apology. It’s better to clear up who was right and who was wrong. Let’s find a quiet place to talk.” She looked at Zhuang Yuzhen with zero favor.

Yun Can’er looked at Ning Xiao, then at Zhuang Yuzhen. Her heart felt as though it were entangled in weeds, giving way to a faint sense of oppression and sadness. How did Brother Yuzhen know Ning Xiao, and why was he defending her so fiercely? What was their relationship?

Yun Can’er had originally held a vague crush on Zhuang Yuzhen, but because of how he defended Ning Xiao, that shred of affection vanished instantly. It disappeared without a trace, as if she had never liked him at all.

The four of them went to a café on the third floor and sat in a quiet corner. They each took a side, with Yun Can’er sitting opposite Ning Xiao, flanked by Zhuang Yuzhen and Lu Qiqi.

Lu Qiqi began, “Let’s start from the beginning. President Ning, why did you come to Haihe Mall?”

Ning Xiao glanced at Yun Can’er. “I came to take Can’er home.”

Lu Qiqi asked Yun Can’er, “Did you know President Ning was coming to get you?”

Yun Can’er: “…Yes.” Ning Xiao was the reinforcement she had called for.

Hearing this, Zhuang Yuzhen’s expression shifted, and he breathed a sigh of relief. So Ning Xiao had come for Yun Can’er, not for some “little boyfriend” as Yang Yuanqi had suggested.

Lu Qiqi continued her interrogation like a police officer. “What did you two say when you met?”

Yun Can’er lowered her head in shame, too embarrassed to speak. Ning Xiao repeated their conversation.

Lu Qiqi: “

That was it? That’s why Can’er got angry?

Lu Qiqi looked at Yun Can’er, speechless. Yun Can’er’s ears were bright red. Feeling a bit embarrassed herself, Lu Qiqi said, “I’m sorry, President Ning. I misunderstood you.”

Ning Xiao now seemed to understand why Yun Can’er was upset. She smiled and stroked the girl’s wavy hair. “It’s fine. It was my fault for not being considerate of Can’er’s feelings. I shouldn’t have decided what to do with gifts that were already given to her.”

Yun Can’er looked up at Ning Xiao in disbelief, her long lashes trembling and her pink lips slightly parted. “Do you really not blame me for being unreasonable?”

It was clearly her fault, so why was Ning Xiao taking the blame?

“Really. Realer than real gold. Otherwise, shall we go to the top floor and I’ll buy you some gold bars?” Ning Xiao teased.

Yun Can’er immediately shook her head like a rattle. “No need for gold bars!” Gold—how tacky!

With the air cleared, Lu Qiqi stood up. “President Ning, my driver will be here soon. You can just take Can’er home directly.”

Ning Xiao said, “We’ll leave after your driver arrives.” Yun Can’er nodded quickly.

Realizing it wasn’t appropriate for a man to hang around them, Zhuang Yuzhen made an excuse to leave. Ning Xiao said, “Today was a bit inconvenient. I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.”

Zhuang Yuzhen looked deeply into Ning Xiao’s beautiful, gentle eyes. “It’s a deal. I’m available whenever you are.”

For some reason, Yun Can’er didn’t just stop liking Zhuang Yuzhen; the more she looked at him, the more she disliked him. Especially when Ning Xiao smiled at him, she wished he would just disappear.

【Ding! Female Lead’s Blackening Value is 20%】

Ning Xiao:

The smile on Ning Xiao’s face froze as she turned to look at Yun Can’er in silence. Yun Can’er was staring at Zhuang Yuzhen’s retreating figure with dark, brooding eyes.

Ning Xiao suddenly realized, Yun Can’er must be jealous. It’s only natural for a person to be upset when the man they have a crush on is acting all friendly with the “wicked stepmother” they’re supposed to hate. It seemed she would have to distance herself from the male lead as much as possible. Not just her, but Yun Can’er too. Scumbags weren’t worth her time.

Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er waited with Lu Qiqi until the Lu family driver arrived. Only after seeing her off did they prepare to head home.

The drive back was silent. When they reached the Youyun Villa, before getting out of the car, Yun Can’er finally worked up the courage to speak. “Today was my fault for throwing a tantrum. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

In the café, Ning Xiao had taken the initiative to apologize, but Yun Can’er felt she was the one who truly owed the apology.

Ning Xiao leaned back against her seat and looked at the top of Yun Can’er’s head. “If you want my forgiveness, fine. But you have to promise me one thing.”

Yun Can’er looked up, her dark eyes reflecting the lights outside the window. “What is it?”

“Work as my assistant this summer break.”

Yun Can’er blinked. “But I don’t know anything about that?”

She had never considered taking over the Yun Group; she had applied for a Jewelry Appreciation major according to her own interests, and her admission letter had already arrived.

Ning Xiao replied, “If you don’t know, I can teach you. All you have to do now is answer whether or not you want me to forgive you.”

Yun Can’er: “I do, but…”

“As long as you do, then it’s settled.”

Yun Can’er: Ning Xiao was way too overbearing!

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