The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 6

“You keep thanking me; how exactly do you plan to show it?” Ning Xiao asked, having skillfully finished applying the medicine to Yun Can’er’s wrist. She looked up, her clear eyes reflecting Yun Can’er’s image.

Yun Can’er stared at Ning Xiao’s focused profile. “How about I treat you to a meal?”

She wasn’t favored by her parents, and her pocket money was pitifully sparse. Usually, she was too frugal to even buy meat for herself, but she didn’t feel a hint of regret at the thought of spending money on Ning Xiao.

Ning Xiao was about to agree when she suddenly remembered that Yun Can’er was a poor little thing with no money. From childhood, any prize money she won was squandered by her parents and her twin sister; she hadn’t saved a single cent for herself.

Ning Xiao’s heart ached for her again. “No need. I’ll treat you.”

Yun Can’er blinked in confusion. “But. I’m the one who wants to thank you. Why would you treat me?”

Ning Xiao finished packing the first-aid kit and couldn’t resist ruffling Yun Can’er’s soft hair. “It’s too lonely eating by myself. I’m paying for your company.”

The first class the next morning was Chinese. Ning Xiao remembered Teacher He’s plan to spot-check the recitation of the text, so she spent the entire morning self-study session trying to memorize it. The result was the same as yesterday—she couldn’t remember a single line.

“Xiao Qi, are you absolutely sure I’ll have a photographic memory after one day?” Ning Xiao asked System 13579, feeling speechless.

This side effect of losing her ability to form new memories for a day was truly frustrating. “I don’t even remember what happened yesterday. Did I bully Can’er again?”

System 13579 replied: If only the Host actually bullied the female lead. Sigh! It let out a heavy, weary sigh.

Yesterday, Ning Xiao hadn’t just avoided bullying her; she had practically placed the girl at the tip of her heart. To save the female lead money, she had even come up with the excuse of being “lonely” just to treat her to a meal.

If this succeeded, there was a fifty percent chance it would derail the future plot. However, because Ning Xiao had taken the Memory Pill and the side effects hadn’t worn off yet, System 13579 didn’t stop her.

If this could leave the female lead with the impression that Ning Xiao was someone who didn’t keep her word, that would actually be for the best.

The bell rang, and the students returned to their seats. Ning Xiao leaned against the windowsill as He Yue walked in. The teacher’s sharp gaze swept across the room and landed directly on her face.

“Ning Xiao, recite yesterday’s text.”

Ning Xiao stood up. She couldn’t even recall the title of the text in her mind. “Teacher He, I don’t know how to recite it yet.”

He Yue’s stern face seemed to freeze. “What did you say?!” She couldn’t believe that Ning Xiao would simply admit she hadn’t memorized it without even trying.

The classroom fell into a deathly silence.

“Heh.” A scoff of mockery came from Shang Shaotan in the back row.

Ning Xiao looked back at Shang Shaotan, her eyes shimmering like clear pools, filled with a look of grievance. She truly couldn’t understand why Shang Shaotan always found her eyesores yet went out of his way to confess to Yun Can’er.

Aside from having better grades, in what way was Yun Can’er better than her?

In the front row, Yun Can’er turned back to steal a quick glance at Ning Xiao, biting her lower lip in apparent worry.

“Ning Xiao, go stand at the back of the class for the rest of the period,” He Yue said coldly.

Ning Xiao stood up, her chair making a harsh scraping sound against the floor. With a cold expression, she walked to the very back of the classroom and stood against the wall.

He Yue called on Yun Can’er next.

Without a single pause, Yun Can’er fluently recited the entire text.

“Some students are neither as smart nor as hardworking as Yun Can’er. I truly don’t understand why they come to Class 1 just to humiliate themselves. I’ll be waiting for you to rank last in the next monthly exam so you can head back to Class 2.”

He Yue was full of praise for Yun Can’er, but her words were directed at Ning Xiao. Every word of praise for Yun Can’er was a barb meant to mock Ning Xiao.

Ning Xiao had never suffered such an insult in her life; there was no way she could keep her temper in check.

Her eyes blazed as she stood against the back wall, her voice rising to drown out He Yue: “Teacher He, do you hate Yun Can’er that much? Can you not stand to see even a bit of good in her?”

The surrounding students gasped, astonished by her boldness. They covered their mouths and peered back at her. For the next three years of high school, He Yue would be the headteacher of Class 1. If possible, no one wanted to offend her.

He Yue frowned. “Ning Xiao, is the classroom a place for you to talk nonsense?”

“Nonsense? Even if I had a decent relationship with Yun Can’er, saying things like that would drive a wedge between us not to mention we aren’t on good terms to begin with. Teacher He, my family is prominent, while Yun Can’er comes from a common background. Aren’t you afraid your words will provoke me into bullying her at school?”

He Yue was startled.

For a teacher, using a “good student” to motivate a “bad student” was standard practice. How had it turned into her being the one pushing Ning Xiao to bully Yun Can’er in Ning Xiao’s mouth?

He Yue knew Ning Xiao had a point; she had indeed been a bit too impatient. However, she couldn’t admit her mistake in front of the entire class.

To maintain teaching standards, a teacher’s authority was paramount. If she couldn’t even suppress a single Ning Xiao, how could she manage the others?

Ninety percent of the students at Boming Private High School came from wealthy or powerful families. While many were reasonable, there were just as many who were arrogant and overbearing. She had taught for years, and even Shang Shaotan never gave her trouble. Why did she have to end up with a transfer student like Ning Xiao!

Even though she knew Ning Xiao would leave Class 1 after the next exam, He Yue didn’t want her staying for another minute right now.

“Ning Xiao, this classroom can no longer hold you. Go stand outside,” He Yue said, her face ashen and cold.

Ning Xiao’s red lips curled into a wild, arrogant smile. “Teacher He, I’ve paid my tuition. You have no right to demand I leave the classroom during class hours. I assume Teacher He doesn’t want to lose her job, right?”

Everyone could hear the threat in Ning Xiao’s voice. The Ning family held shares in Boming; firing a teacher was well within their power.

Upon hearing Ning Xiao’s words, He Yue’s face instantly lost all color. In front of the whole class, her dignity had been ruthlessly stripped away by Ning Xiao.

In this class, the only person who could possibly restrain Ning Xiao was Shang Shaotan.

He Yue couldn’t help but turn a pleading gaze toward him.

Shang Shaotan was accustomed to playing the “good guy.” Combined with his family background and looks, he had an excellent reputation and high prestige among the students. If he said a single word for her, the current crisis would be resolved immediately.

Shang Shaotan looked back at Ning Xiao, his eyes filled with contempt.

The Shang family held the largest share of the school. Even if the Ning family wanted to fire He Yue, it would depend on whether the Shangs agreed.

Shang Shaotan’s voice wasn’t loud, but he spoke slowly: “Ning Xiao, haven’t you learned anything about respecting your teachers?”

That one light sentence caused Ning Xiao’s face to turn deathly pale in an instant.

Her body trembled slightly. “Shaotan, why are you helping her? I did nothing wrong!”

As Ning Xiao performed, she asked System 13579 in her mind: Xiao Qi, how was that? My acting is pretty good, right?  Her tone was incredibly smug.

Host, have you studied acting before?

No, I suppose I’m just what they call a natural-born actress.

Ning Xiao tried her best to keep her inner voice calm and factual, as if she were praising someone else entirely.

Support The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration]