The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 69

When Zhuang Yuzhen woke up this morning, he realized instantly that he had been reborn. After the initial shock and joy, he began to recall what was supposed to happen during this period.

He remembered that yesterday, Yun Can’er was meant to be bullied by her roommates at Ocean University. Today, her roommate Zhai Li would have her uncle slap a major demerit on Can’er’s record.

In his previous life, Can’er had nowhere to turn and contacted [Ning Xiao]. But [Ning Xiao] was a woman with a “Buddha’s mouth but a snake’s heart.” She feigned comfort while actually denouncing Can’er as “undisciplined” to Vice-Principal Zhai, cementing the punishment. Back then, Zhuang Yuzhen acting under [Ning Xiao]’s orders to seduce her stepped in to comfort the vulnerable girl.

The plan had been flawless. After “saving” her from a group of wealthy thugs and spending a night together, they became a couple. However, after they married, [Ning Xiao] stopped hiding her true face. She pressured him repeatedly to drain Can’er of her money and shares.

Zhuang Yuzhen had felt exhausted, but because he loved [Ning Xiao], he obeyed—until he fell truly in love with his innocent little wife. When he eventually discovered [Ning Xiao] never loved him and only used him as a tool, he sent her to prison without hesitation.

Until the day he died, [Ning Xiao]’s deception remained the greatest stain on his life. He believed he was reborn to erase that stain. He would still “save” Can’er, but this time, he wouldn’t lie for [Ning Xiao]. He would expose her and watch her fall from grace!

During his speech, Zhuang Yuzhen’s gaze kept drifting to Yun Can’er. She looked healthy and vibrant, her eyes full of light, though she refused to meet his gaze.

He frowned. Something was wrong. By now, she should have been pale and distraught over the demerit. Instead, she looked as if nothing had happened.

After his speech, he didn’t go far. He waited in a secluded corner for the class to end.

At 11:30 AM, the students were dismissed for lunch. Yun Can’er immediately pulled out her phone to message Ning Xiao.

Yun Can’er: Ning-ning, Zhuang Yuzhen came to our department for a speech. He kept looking at me like he was plotting something. It was so weird.

Ning Xiao was driving and hadn’t noticed the message. When no reply came, Can’er felt a bit deflated.

“Can’er, let’s go eat,” Chu Ling said, packing her things.

“Okay, Ling-jie,” Can’er replied softly.

“Can’er looks so cute when she’s being obedient,” Feng Manman squealed, cupping her own face.

The trio walked out of the building. As they passed the small garden, a tall figure stepped out. Zhuang Yuzhen, a handsome smile on his face, blocked their path.

Chu Ling, immediately wary, stepped in front of Can’er. “President Zhuang, is there something you need?”

Principal Yan had warned her about businessmen who targeted pretty college students. To Chu Ling, Zhuang Yuzhen looked exactly like that kind of “filthy entrepreneur.”

Zhuang Yuzhen ignored her and spoke gently to Can’er. “Can’er, I have something very important to tell you. Can you give me a few minutes?”

Yun Can’er looked down to hide her annoyance. “I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

“It’s about Ning Xiao,” he added. “Are you sure you don’t want to know?”

Hearing that name, Can’er finally looked up. “Five minutes,” he promised. “Your friends can wait right here.”

Lured by the mention of Ning Xiao, Can’er asked her roommates to wait. Feng Manman tapped her watch. “I’m timing you. Five minutes, and then she’s leaving with us.”

They stepped into a spot in the park where they could be seen but not heard. Zhuang Yuzhen looked at the pure girl before him with nostalgia.

In his past life, he had hurt her deeply. Even after they reconciled, a crack remained between them like a tiny fishbone stuck in the throat—small, but painful whenever they tried to swallow. This time, he would turn her into a princess and ensure no “fishbone” ever hurt her again.

“Time is limited. Speak,” Can’er urged, breaking his reverie.

He smiled tenderly. Yun Can’er felt a wave of nausea. His gaze felt disgusting, as if there were some secret bond between them.

“Can’er, I hope you don’t trust [Ning Xiao] too much,” he began. “She isn’t who she pretends to be.”

Can’er was immediately offended. “If I don’t trust Ning-ning, should I trust you? You don’t even compare to her fingernail clippings.”

Zhuang Yuzhen remained patient. “Remember when she kicked you out a month ago? You met Tan Rui and ended up suffering in the Blue Sea Club for a month…”

He spoke with pity, but he didn’t realize that in this timeline, Can’er had been rescued almost immediately. He lacked the memories of this specific body.

Yun Can’er looked at him like he was insane. A month? I was out in no time.

“Tan Rui was sent by Ning-ning to protect me,” Can’er snapped. “She already told me. What happened was an accident. President Zhuang, can you stop beating around the bush?”

“Can’er, I know it’s hard to accept, but I can prove it,” he insisted, convinced she was just in denial. “Aren’t you curious why she married your father? He was in his fifties, she was in her twenties. It wasn’t love.”

Can’er’s heart tightened. “You know why?”

Just as Ning Xiao arrived at the scene, she heard Zhuang Yuzhen explaining the “contract” to Can’er.

“Your father was worried about dying and leaving you alone,” Zhuang Yuzhen said. “[Ning Xiao] is a master of disguise. She tricked him into thinking she’d protect you. Your father gave the Ning family massive benefits to finally ‘win the beauty’ over.”

Hearing the phrase “win the beauty,” Yun Can’er’s face crumpled with jealousy. She began to spiral: Does she only care for me because of my father? Does she… love him?

In Ning Xiao’s mind, the system went wild: [Ding! Female Lead Blackening: 50%… 60%… 80%… 90%!]

Ning Xiao: Xiao Qi, just hit 100% and be done with it. Forget the reborn lead; if Can’er blackens, the plot is gone anyway.

[Don’t worry, Host! It stopped at 90%!]

Ning Xiao sighed and stepped through the trees.

Zhuang Yuzhen, seeing her expression, thought he was winning. “I bet you didn’t even know your father and [Ning Xiao] never actually registered their marriage, did you?”

Can’er looked at him in shock. “They didn’t get a marriage certificate?”

A surge of joy flooded her heart. She had to fight to keep her lips from curling into a smile. “Why? Do you know why?”

“Of course,” Zhuang Yuzhen said. “The wedding was just a show to give her a status so she could legally manage the Yun Group and care for you. They signed a contract: she inherits the company to manage it for you, and once you marry, she hands it back and takes one-fifth of the wealth as her ‘fee’ before leaving.”

Can’er was overwhelmed with relief. It was a fake marriage! Only a transaction! No feelings!

“She’s only being nice to get your shares…” Zhuang Yuzhen continued.

“You’re wrong,” Ning Xiao said, stepping out from the foliage.

Zhuang Yuzhen froze. His eyes flickered with a mix of loathing and lingering obsession. “How am I wrong? Are you going to claim you don’t want her shares? Ridiculous!”

Ning Xiao turned to Can’er. The girl was staring at her with pure, heated devotion. Ning Xiao stroked Can’er’s hair and smiled.

“I really don’t want her shares”

Zhuang Yuzhen raised his chin to mock her, but her next words struck him like a physical blow.

“I want her.“

A long, deafening silence followed.

Zhuang Yuzhen’s face contorted. “Ning Xiao, you’ve lost your mind! What nonsense are you talking?!”

But the horror wasn’t over.

Upon hearing Ning Xiao’s near-confession, Yun Can’er’s face turned scarlet. She boldly grabbed Ning Xiao’s hand and looked up, her voice trembling with excitement. “I… I want Ning-ning, too.”

Zhuang Yuzhen panicked. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er? Together? Impossible!

Ning Xiao laughed and leaned down, her lips brushing against Can’er’s fluttering eyelashes. “Little cutie, does this mean our feelings are mutual?”

Summoning a lifetime of courage, Yun Can’er stood on her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and kissed the corner of Ning Xiao’s lips. “Of course,” she beamed.

Zhuang Yuzhen collapsed, clutching his head. “No… this is wrong… it’s all fake!” A searing pain ripped through his brain. His body was drenched in cold sweat, and he finally let out a scream of agony.

Can’er, who had been about to go in for a real kiss on Ning Xiao’s lips, frowned at the interruption.

Ning Xiao whispered, “We have plenty of time later.”

Can’er nodded, blushing furiously.

Chu Ling and Feng Manman rushed in, seeing Zhuang Yuzhen writhing on the ground. “Ning-jie, what happened to him?”

Ning Xiao remained calm. “I don’t know. We were just talking and he suddenly collapsed. Don’t worry, I’ve already called an ambulance.”

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