The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 71

[Ding! Male Lead’s Regret Value is now at 50%!]

[Keep it up, Host! It looks like flaunting your affection is really paying off~]

Ning Xiao was more than happy to show off her relationship in front of the reborn male lead. She reached out, pulling Yun Can’er into her arms, and lowered her head to press a gentle kiss against her smooth, fair forehead. With a doting smile, she said, “Alright, I accept your proposal.”

Yun Can’er had only spoken out of impulse; she hadn’t dared to hope that Ning Xiao would actually agree. Now that her wish had suddenly come true, it felt as if a brilliant display of fireworks had erupted in her heart.

She threw her arms around Ning Xiao, feeling a sense of fulfillment like never before. Holding Ning Xiao felt like holding her entire world.

Zhuang Yuzhen found the sight unbearable. He couldn’t help but snap, “This is a hospital ward, not a place for you to play at romance!”

As Yun Can’er looked up to retort, Ning Xiao patted her back soothingly. She turned a cold gaze toward Zhuang Yuzhen and said flatly, “President Zhuang, you’re free to be discharged now. We won’t be seeing you out.”

“You!” Zhuang Yuzhen’s heart was a tangled mess of bitterness and resentment.

It was true that Ning Xiao was a deceiver, but because he possessed something she needed, she had always been the soul of gentleness toward him. She had never been cold, let alone said a single word to upset him. Was Yun Can’er really that wonderful? So wonderful that Ning Xiao no longer even acknowledged his presence?

Zhuang Yuzhen gritted his teeth in secret. He vowed to make Yun Can’er fall in love with him again, forcing Ning Xiao to grovel for his favour once more, no matter her motives. However, this required a long-term plan. First, he had to uncover exactly what had happened after Yun Boyuan’s death and why both Ning Xiao and Yun Can’er were so drastically different from the people in his memories.

Stepping off the hospital bed, Zhuang Yuzhen pulled on his shoes with a frosty expression and walked toward the door, feigning complete indifference. In reality, every ounce of his attention was fixed on Ning Xiao.

Just as he reached the doorway, Ning Xiao spoke up. “Wait.”

A surge of joy hit Zhuang Yuzhen’s heart. Maintaining his composure, he turned around. “Is there something else?” Even if he was losing, he wouldn’t lose his dignity.

Ning Xiao said, “I paid for your hospital fees. I assume a man like President Zhuang isn’t the type to dodge his debts.”

Zhuang Yuzhen’s heart sank to rock bottom, his face flushing with visible fury. “Of course not. I’ll have my assistant transfer the funds to you as soon as I return.” With that, he turned and marched away.

Now alone in the ward, Yun Can’er couldn’t take her eyes off Ning Xiao, watching her with rapt devotion.

When Ning Xiao turned back and saw the blatant obsession in those dark eyes, she couldn’t help but chuckle. She reached out and tilted Yun Can’er’s pointed chin up. Feeling the silky texture of her skin, Ning Xiao leaned in close until their breaths mingled.

A faint, lingering tension filled the air.

Yun Can’er froze for a moment, then, with a blushing face and a hint of nerves, she slowly closed her eyes.

Ning Xiao gave a soft laugh. “Good girl.”

The moment their lips met, Yun Can’er’s body trembled with excitement. Ning Xiao parted her lips, deepening the kiss without hesitation. The temperature in the room seemed to rise as Yun Can’er gradually learned how to respond, shyly tangling her tongue with Ning Xiao’s.

When they finally broke apart, Yun Can’er’s heart was racing like a drum. She clutched her chest, gasping for air.

Ning Xiao’s breath was also slightly hitched. Her gaze swept over Yun Can’er’s flushed cheeks before settling on her reddened, slightly swollen lips. They looked like crushed petals steeped in nectar, radiating a sweet fragrance that tempted her to taste them once more.

Giving in to her impulses, Ning Xiao leaned down and kissed her again.

Yun Can’er’s thick eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings in the wind. She tilted her head back, offering her lips like a sacred sacrifice.

On the way home, Yun Can’er touched her tingling lips, smiling like a little fox that had successfully stolen a treat, sweet and brimming with a private sort of pride.

While waiting at a red light, Ning Xiao glanced over. “What’s made you so happy?”

Suddenly feeling shy, Yun Can’er couldn’t bring herself to look at Ning Xiao. She covered her mouth and turned toward the car window. Watching Ning Xiao’s reflection in the glass, she murmured, “You know why.”

What else could it be? As she recalled the kiss, the tips of her ears turned a quiet shade of red. She had never imagined that a kiss could taste so wonderful.

“If kissing makes you this happy,” Ning Xiao said, “then the first thing I’ll do every morning from now on is kiss you.”

The light turned green. Ning Xiao focused on the road, missing the look of pure anticipation that filled Yun Can’er’s dark eyes as she turned back.

The first thing Ning Xiao did upon returning home was gather the servants. She informed them that she and Yun Boyuan had only been friends, that they had never shared a bed, nor had they ever officially registered a marriage.

The servants were stunned.

The nanny, however, remained the most composed of the lot. Her eyes held an “I knew it” look.

Curious, Yun Can’er asked, “Sister He, did you figure it out a long time ago?”

The nanny, Sister He, gave an honest smile. “The Mistress and the Master always slept in separate rooms after the wedding. The Master’s master bedroom never changed, and he specifically had me prepare the room next to yours for the Mistress. I figured no father would want his own bedroom right next to his daughter’s. I could tell then that the Master had no intention of actually sleeping with her.”

Yun Can’er was amazed. “Sister He, you’re incredible!”

“It was just part of my job,” the nanny said modestly. “I look after Youyun Villa every day; naturally, it’s easy to spot when things aren’t quite right.”

Once the nanny spoke up, it was as if a memory switch had been flipped for the other servants. They began chiming in with the little clues they had noticed over time.

“Alright, those details aren’t important; you can discuss them later,” Ning Xiao interrupted. “Now that you know the truth—that Mr. Yun and I never registered our marriage. I am not the mistress of the Yun household. From now on, Youyun Villa has only one owner: Can’er. I am merely a guest staying here. You may think of me as Can’er’s mentor in business or her assistant in life. You can drop the title of ‘Mistress’.”

The servants exchanged glances. Sister He asked, “Then, Miss Ning, how should we address you from now on?”

“Just ‘Miss Ning’ is fine,” Ning Xiao replied. She glanced at Yun Can’er with a smile. “Or you can call me ‘Assistant Ning’.”

Yun Can’er was the first to object. “No! Let’s stick with ‘Miss Ning’.”

The mere thought of Ning Xiao’s suggestion made her face heat up. The current President of the prestigious Yun Group claiming to be her “assistant” carried a secret, unspeakable sense of taboo. Having the servants call her that was simply too embarrassing.

Ning Xiao laughed. “Can’er is the master of Youyun Villa. Since she says ‘Miss Ning’, then that is how you shall address me.”

Having the truth out in the open left Yun Can’er feeling incredibly exhilarated. Even if the outside world still saw Ning Xiao as her stepmother, here at home—the one place she could truly relax—Ning Xiao was simply a woman who had no romantic ties to her father. They could love each other openly and engage in whatever intimacy they desired.

After making the announcement, Ning Xiao produced several non-disclosure agreements. “For the sake of the Group’s stability, this matter cannot be made public for the time being. Sign these, and you may continue your employment here.”

Sister He was the first to step forward. “Miss Ning, I’ll sign first. You know I’m tight-lipped. I never breathed a word to anyone about what I noticed regarding you and the Master.”

“Sister He, your year-end bonus will be doubled,” Ning Xiao announced. “For everyone else, if you sign within the minute, your bonus will be increased by half.”

Hearing this, the other servants scrambled to sign their names on the agreements.

By the time the domestic matters were settled, it was already past four in the afternoon. Ning Xiao listed a few of Yun Can’er’s favourite dishes for the nanny to add to dinner, and Sister He hurried off to comply. Even though they now knew Ning Xiao wasn’t Yun Boyuan’s wife, not a single person in Youyun Villa dared to treat her with anything less than total respect.

Noticing the fatigue on Yun Can’er’s face, Ning Xiao dismissed the staff. She took Yun Can’er’s hand, touched her forehead gently, and said, “Go upstairs and rest for a while.”

Yun Can’er nodded. So much had happened today, and the emotional rollercoaster had left her exhausted.

Once upstairs, Ning Xiao led her to the bed. As Yun Can’er lay down, Ning Xiao ruffled her long hair. “Rest well.”

Yun Can’er’s face was a bit pale as she nodded obediently. But as Ning Xiao turned to leave, she felt a small hand catch her own.

Yun Can’er looked up with watery, dark eyes, looking quite piteous. “Can you stay with me while I rest?”

Ning Xiao smiled. “Of course.”

Yun Can’er hadn’t expected such an easy agreement; a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

Ning Xiao lay down beside her. They faced each other, so close they could hear one another’s breathing. Ning Xiao reached out to stroke Yun Can’er’s cheek. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that since we walked through the door.”

Yun Can’er’s lashes trembled. “You could have just said so,” she murmured shyly. “I would never have said no.” If she hadn’t found the courage to ask Ning Xiao to stay, she would have missed the chance to share a bed. She would have been absolutely miserable with regret.

Ning Xiao shook her head, looking quite solemn. “We aren’t married yet. I have to maintain some level of decorum.”

Yun Can’er froze, her mouth parting slightly. “Then… was I being very improper just now?” Pulling Ning Xiao’s hand and asking her to stay was the opposite of “decorum.”

Ning Xiao moved closer until their noses were barely five centimetres apart. “I’m just teasing. My ‘leaving’ was just an act. Even if you hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere. How could I bear to be so far away from my hard-won girlfriend?”

Dazzled by the sweet talk, Yun Can’er nearly forgot where she was.

Ning Xiao pressed a fleeting kiss to her pink lips. “See you when we wake up, darling.”

“Mhm, see you then,” Yun Can’er whispered. Still, her eyes remained wide and fixed on Ning Xiao’s face, reluctant to close.

Ning Xiao placed her hand over Yun Can’er’s eyes. “You can look all you want once you wake up. For now, sleep.”

Only then did Yun Can’er give a tiny nod.

It wasn’t until Yun Can’er’s breathing became slow and steady that Ning Xiao finally withdrew her hand.

The two slept until seven in the evening.

When Ning Xiao opened her eyes, she found Yun Can’er curled up in her arms. At her slight movement, Yun Can’er woke up too, rubbing her eyes and stifling a yawn with her hand.

Ning Xiao reached over to click on the bedside lamp. The light instantly banished the shadows, revealing Ning Xiao’s stunningly beautiful features.

“Good evening,” Yun Can’er said dazedledly.

Ning Xiao’s lips curled. “Good evening.” She leaned in for another kiss. “It doesn’t have to be morning for me to want to kiss you.”

Yun Can’er was both embarrassed and overjoyed.

After washing up, they headed downstairs. Hearing them, Sister He emerged from the kitchen. “Miss, Miss Ning, dinner is almost ready. You can wait at the table.”

Yun Can’er waited for Ning Xiao to respond, but instead, Ning Xiao patted her shoulder, prompting her to speak. Yun Can’er immediately realized Ning Xiao was trying to train her. Her fingers curled nervously, but she mimicked Ning Xiao’s usual poise and nodded to the nanny. “Alright, thank you, Sister He.”

The nanny’s face broke into a radiant smile. “It’s my pleasure, Miss! Don’t mention it!” She headed back to the kitchen, looking absolutely delighted.

Yun Can’er watched her go, confused. “Why is Sister He so happy?” All she had done was say thank you.

“You are her boss now,” Ning Xiao explained. “You hold the power over her livelihood, so of course she wants to please you. Don’t forget, you are the future successor of the Yun Group. Your ‘thank you’ carries a different weight than it used to.”

Yun Can’er nodded, though she only half-understood.

“It’s alright if you don’t fully get it yet. From now on, more and more people will scramble to flatter you. You must learn to distinguish them—to see who might have looked down on you before, or who might have mocked you behind your back.”

“Once I can tell the difference,” Yun Can’er asked, “how should I treat those people who change their tune so quickly?”

Ning Xiao smiled, stroking Yun Can’er’s wavy, seaweed-like hair. “With your status and position, you don’t need to pay them much mind. Just ignore them.”

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