Transmigrated as the Husband of a Vicious Villainess - Chapter 29

Thinking about the changes that would soon occur in Wen Miao’s family, Ji Baiqing looked at the great beauty acting spoiled in her arms and resolved to secure her a proper job. However, despite her determination, the beauty still needed to be coaxed and pampered.

The idea of having Wen Miao become a school teacher wasn’t just a sudden whim. In the original plot, after a period of time, the schools in Yunshui Village, the neighboring Xiaoshi Village, and Dashan Village would merge due to a lack of students. Yunshui Village’s primary school had the largest area and best facilities, so the students would be centralized there. Previously, one teacher handled several grades, but with the expansion, a new teacher would be recruited alongside the original staff.

In the original story, this teaching position naturally went to the female lead, Shen Niannian. But Ji Baiqing didn’t believe Wen Miao was inferior; she wanted Wen Miao to give it her best shot. Since they had already dug up the ginseng that was supposed to belong to Shen Niannian, why couldn’t the teaching job belong to Wen Miao as well? She understood the entanglements between Wen Miao and Shen Niannian and had no good feelings toward that group of educated youths. Therefore, she wanted Wen Miao to secure the job with her own hands. Moreover, she was curious to see what would happen once the original plot was disrupted. She wanted to break the narrative constraints imposed on Wen Miao together with her.

Her long fingers threaded through Wen Miao’s black hair, smoothing it down. “Zhenzhen, I just think you’re bored at home every day. I saw how patient you were teaching Xiaomi, so if you go to the school, you can teach even more children to read.”

Seeing Wen Miao frown with a bit of hesitation, Ji Baiqing smiled slightly and added more fuel to the fire. “Besides, if the school really recruits, many people will want the job. Don’t you think Shen Niannian is thinking the same thing? After all, teaching is much easier than farm work.”

After saying that, Ji Baiqing feigned a sigh. “It seems this job can only be taken by those people at the youth center.”

Hearing this, Wen Miao predictably took the bait and immediately decided, “No, I’ve changed my mind. I want to be a teacher.”

So easy to trick, Ji Baiqing laughed to herself. She said, “I knew Zhenzhen was the most amazing; you’ll definitely succeed.”

Once this was settled, Ji Baiqing actually took Wen Miao to see the village chief to learn about the situation. After the previous incident with Hehua, Li Xiangdong’s opinion of Wen Miao had improved a bit. Hearing Ji Baiqing’s words, Li Xiangdong felt a bit of a headache. “Where did you hear this news again?”

Ji Baiqing chuckled. “The whole village is talking about it. Uncle, don’t forget to call me when the school expands.”

Li Xiangdong said crossly, “Why are you getting involved, little girl?” After a pause, he added, “But it’s true that a new teacher will be needed once the school is fixed, though plenty of people want that spot.”

Ji Baiqing put her arm around Wen Miao’s shoulder. “I think Wen Miao is great. She’s very suitable to be a teacher; she’s a high school graduate from the capital!”

Li Xiangdong waved her off. “Go on, don’t cause trouble. This isn’t for me to decide alone; the chiefs of several villages have to discuss it. Do you think my word is law?”

Ji Baiqing suggested, “How about holding an exam? Whoever gets the highest score becomes the teacher. That’s the most fair.” After speaking, she looked at Wen Miao, who gave her a slight nod.

Hearing this, Li Xiangdong rubbed his chin. “I’ll discuss it with the other chiefs. I think that’s a decent idea.”

After talking with Li Xiangdong, Ji Baiqing felt somewhat confident. Leaving the chief’s house, Wen Miao and Ji Baiqing happened to run into Pan Hongxia, who had just arrived. Pan Hongxia looked a bit awkward and greeted Wen Miao, but Wen Miao didn’t even look up. Ji Baiqing pulled her away quickly; they had to avoid that group from the youth center, as who knew what might happen otherwise.

After walking some distance and seeing Wen Miao’s calm profile, unaffected by the encounter, Ji Baiqing leaned closer and took her soft hand, rubbing it. She didn’t mention Pan Hongxia, only asking, “Are you confident about the exam?”

Wen Miao gave a light huff, looking quite proud. “Who do you think you’re looking down on? I was always first in my school.”

Ji Baiqing smiled. “Then to celebrate our Wen Miao’s upcoming first place in the exam, let’s go catch fish together!”

She had mentioned taking Wen Miao to catch fish many times, and finally, she was fulfilling the promise. Wen Miao indeed remembered it; her eyes lit up, her amber pupils appearing like faint gold under the light, looking incredibly beautiful.

Want to kiss her.

Ji Baiqing ultimately held back. After returning home, they changed into lighter clothes. She took a bamboo basket and a net, sharpened two bamboo strips, and led Wen Miao to the river. For safety, they went upstream where the water was shallower, though it still reached Ji Baiqing’s neck at the center.

Wen Miao stood aside, watching Ji Baiqing curiously. “How do you catch them?”

Ji Baiqing stared at the river surface. Seeing the shimmering light, she pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Wen Miao to be quiet. Once signaled, Wen Miao immediately shut her mouth, watching Ji Baiqing’s movements with wide eyes. Ji Baiqing focused on a certain spot, then suddenly raised the bamboo strip. It broke the water surface with a soft splash, and she instantly lifted the speared fish to show Wen Miao.

“Caught one.”

Seeing Wen Miao’s look of disbelief and the admiration in her eyes, Ji Baiqing’s vanity was well satisfied. She proceeded to catch two more fish in quick succession. Dinner was settled. Ji Baiqing put the fish in the small basket and looked at Wen Miao.

“Zhenzhen, do you want to try first?”

Wen Miao nodded and stepped into the water. Ji Baiqing followed behind her, leading her to a shallow area. The disturbed water took a moment to become clear again. She placed the bamboo strip in Wen Miao’s palm, holding her hand to guide her movements. Her lips were close to Wen Miao’s earlobe; every breath she took hit her ear.

Wen Miao’s body trembled slightly, but she suppressed the soft moan that was about to escape, doing her best to listen to Ji Baiqing’s guidance.

“The fish is there. A bubble just rose. Don’t spear directly; an angle is correct.”

With that, Ji Baiqing guided Wen Miao’s hand to strike into the water. Feeling the target about to escape, Wen Miao forgot about the person behind her and frantically reached into the water to grab the fish. Seeing this, Ji Baiqing let go to avoid accidentally hurting her. After a moment of splashing, Wen Miao broke into a smile, holding a fish with both hands.

“A-Qing, I caught it!”

Looking at her bright smile, Ji Baiqing caught the infectious joy and offered plenty of encouragement. “Wow! That’s amazing!”

Wen Miao walked toward the shore with the fish, wanting to put it in the basket. This was the fish she had worked so hard to catch! After putting it in by the riverside, she turned back to ask Ji Baiqing to teach her more, but because the pebbles underfoot were too slippery, she lost her balance and fell directly into the water. Ripples spread out in circles.

Seeing this, Ji Baiqing immediately dove into the water and swam to Wen Miao’s side. The water wasn’t too deep, but Wen Miao was too panicked; she choked on water in her nose and mouth. Feeling someone approach, she instantly treated them like a life-saving straw.

Ji Baiqing wanted to grab her collar to lift her head out, but Wen Miao was like a piece of seaweed, wrapping her limbs around her. In her lack of caution, Ji Baiqing opened her mouth and accidentally choked on water too. Through the clear water, she saw Wen Miao’s reddened face. Finally, having no choice, she pressed the back of her head and kissed her, slowly passing air into her mouth. Her hand simultaneously pressed Wen Miao’s shoulder, stroking her back a few times before leading her toward the surface.

Underwater, Wen Miao greedily took the air passed by Ji Baiqing. Her blood-congested brain finally had the capacity to function again. She slowly opened her eyes and met Ji Baiqing’s gaze through the layers of rippling water. Those eyes were filled with pity and worry. Seeing that she had opened her eyes, Ji Baiqing seemed to gain instant strength, carrying her to the shore.

Their lips separated, and as they broke the surface, both panted heavily in unison. Wen Miao looked incredibly disheveled, her face still flushed, her black hair dripping, and her entire body soaked through. But Ji Baiqing looked quite composed. When she lifted her head, her jawline was smooth and sharp, carrying a youthful edge rarely seen on ordinary days.

Wen Miao felt as if she were drowning again; her mind felt soaked by the water. In a state of near-suffocation, she heard heartbeat after heartbeat. The heart was beating too loudly. She exhaled in small breaths, her hands still tightly clutching Ji Baiqing’s neck. Her whole body was still trembling, even her fingertips were shaking. Was she afraid, or was she feeling the joy of survival? Wen Miao couldn’t find the reason, but a voice inside told her it was neither.

“Ji Baiqing.” Her voice was hoarse. After speaking, she clutched her throat and coughed heart-wrenchingly several times.

Ji Baiqing looked down, worried. “Are you okay?” Her voice was also a bit hoarse; both had choked on water.

Wen Miao shook her head. When she looked up, the corners of her eyes were wet and red, still adorned with teardrops. With a blink, droplets from her wet eyelashes fell, making it hard to tell if they were water or tears. Ji Baiqing felt a bit of self-reproach for bringing her into the water; she should have let her watch from the shore. She wanted Wen Miao to get out of the water, but Wen Miao suddenly used her slender, soft arms to circle her neck again, standing on her tiptoes to press against her lips.

The woman’s movements carried a rare urgency. During the suckling kiss, sharp teeth pierced the lips, and the taste of iron spread between them. What was originally a lingering entanglement felt like a struggle, carrying a feverish intensity that was losing control.

After an unknown amount of time, Ji Baiqing was finally released. Her mind was still dazed, and the remaining part was filled with shame. It was one thing for them to be intimate on ordinary days, but this was the first time they were doing this outside. Although no one was there, she still felt inexplicably bashful.

Wen Miao looked at the woman before her, a flash of determination in her eyes, her voice still hoarse. “Ji Baiqing, I like you. The kind of like where I want you to be my wife. Will you be my partner?”

Wen Miao stared directly at Ji Baiqing, not wanting to miss a single change on her face. After realizing the meaning of Wen Miao’s words, Ji Baiqing’s brain immediately stalled. The vicious female supporting character likes me? You’re joking. How could she like her?

Ji Baiqing spoke under Wen Miao’s burning yet somewhat restrained gaze. “Um, Wen Miao, did you find the wrong person? I…” She closed her eyes and raised her voice. “I haven’t thought about being in a relationship yet, and besides, us being like this is not right.”

If this were the 1980s, homosexuality would surely be judged as hooliganism. By the end, Ji Baiqing didn’t even know what nonsense she was spewing; her mental system seemed to crash in an instant. “Let’s go up. The fish, right, the fish are going to die. Let’s go back and cook.” With that, she stepped onto the shore first, her eyes not daring to look at Wen Miao.

Wen Miao was still soaking in the water. Her body wasn’t cold under the warm sun, but her heart was chilled. She felt like crying due to Ji Baiqing’s attitude. Had she revealed her feelings too early? Now Ji Baiqing seemed to intend to distance herself. Sniffing her nose, Wen Miao tried speaking tentatively, her voice muffled. “Ji Baiqing, my legs are weak; I can’t get up.”

Hearing Wen Miao’s words, Ji Baiqing jumped back into the water with a splash. She still didn’t dare look at Wen Miao, but her hands had already circled Wen Miao’s waist, lifting her like a child and placing her on the grass by the river. After the other had bared her heart, Wen Miao’s previous feigned intimacy now seemed to have had a trace to follow all along. Her hands, which had just held the other, were also burning; the scorching temperature made her heart tremble.

Damn, what do I do? Ji Baiqing silently picked up the basket and faced away from Wen Miao. “Let’s go back.”

Looking at the other’s slender, tall back, Wen Miao bit her lip. Ji Baiqing had just held her; if she proactively showed weakness again, Ji Baiqing should agree to her, right? Wen Miao softened her voice and spoke tentatively, “A-Qing, my legs are soft; I can’t walk.”

It was the same excuse as before. Reason told Ji Baiqing she should refuse or at the very least, find a stick for Wen Miao to lean on. But thinking of the other’s soaked body with every curve exposed, her heart softened once again.

She walked silently to Wen Miao and squatted down, saying, “Get on. I’ll carry you back only because I’m afraid you won’t make it home otherwise. Don’t overthink it.”

Feeling the soft body pressed against her back and the shallow breaths hitting the nape of her neck, Ji Baiqing’s cheeks turned incredibly red. She said not a word as she carried Wen Miao back toward the house.

Once they arrived home, she dropped a quick “change your clothes first” before fleeing to the well to draw water and put the fish in a tub.

In the past, under Wen Miao’s intentional guidance, Ji Baiqing had become immune to the scene of them changing clothes together. But seeing her current “avoidance at all costs” behavior, Wen Miao knew that Ji Baiqing cared very much about her confession of feelings.

She felt a bit dejected, but thinking that Ji Baiqing was still wearing wet clothes, she quickly changed and came out of the bedroom while drying her hair.

Looking at the person squatting by the bucket in the courtyard, she spoke, “A-Qing, I’ve finished changing. Go change your clothes quickly.”

Ji Baiqing stood up abruptly and strode past her, entering the room and shutting the door tightly.

Wen Miao stood to the side, looking down at the four fish they had speared today. When they were spearing fish, the atmosphere between them had been harmonious, and Ji Baiqing hadn’t dodged her at all. But in just an instant, everything changed.

Ji Baiqing wanted to hide from her.

Does she not want me? Wen Miao looked at the clear water gradually being dyed red, her gaze calm.

She had envisioned this day a thousand times, having countless nightmares where she confessed only to be rejected and disliked by Ji Baiqing. Now that she was actually facing this scene in reality, she was somewhat mentally prepared, yet she still felt an uncontrollable sadness. Is it really that hard to accept being with me?

Wen Miao couldn’t figure it out. But she knew that even if Ji Baiqing didn’t have those feelings for her, she couldn’t let go. She liked Ji Baiqing. Wen Miao was never one to retreat in the face of difficulty, and the same applied to her emotions. Since Ji Baiqing wanted to retreat, then she would just proactively take a few steps forward.

She shouldn’t be completely without feelings for me; otherwise, why would she be willing to kiss and hug me? Thinking of this, Wen Miao’s mood improved slightly. If the mountain will not come to me, I must go to the mountain.

Ji Baiqing dawdled in the room for a long time. She had changed her clothes but still didn’t go out. She hadn’t prepared herself mentally to face Wen Miao. After all, anyone would have this reaction when their best friend confessed to them, right? It should be fine to be a “shrinking turtle” for a bit, right?

But seeing as it was almost time for the workday to end, He Xiangyue and the others would be back soon. If she didn’t start cooking now, it would be too late. Ji Baiqing awkwardly left the room, her eyes scanning the house quickly; Wen Miao was nowhere to be seen.

Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she stepped into the kitchen and saw Wen Miao holding a knife, preparing to deal with the fish flopping on the cutting board. Her soul nearly left her body in fear. She rushed over with lightning speed, gripping Wen Miao’s wrist while the other hand snatched the knife away.

“Don’t play with knives, it’s dangerous.” Especially since the fish was still alive; it would be easy to accidentally cut her hand.

After speaking, she noticed Wen Miao’s gaze was fixed on where their hands were joined. Feeling as if she had been burned, Ji Baiqing let go and stepped back with the knife. “I, I didn’t do it on purpose!” she blurted out instinctively.

Pretending not to see Wen Miao’s hurt expression, Ji Baiqing said to her, “I’ll kill the fish. You go to the garden and pick some peppers and green onions.”

Wen Miao said nothing, merely pointing to the basket on the stove. Inside were peppers, green onions, and a piece of ginger, all so fresh they seemed to be dripping with moisture. Ji Baiqing rubbed her nose, said nothing more, and lowered her head to process the fish.

With a thud, the knife hit the fish’s head, knocking it unconscious. After gutting it, Ji Baiqing descaled it at the door and washed the pieces again. Back in the kitchen, Wen Miao was already starting the fire and the rice was steaming.

This was the first time the two of them had been so silent while working in the same space. An unspoken awkwardness spread between them. Accustomed to chatting with Wen Miao, the silence was only broken by the sizzling sound of the fish being stir-fried. Ji Baiqing felt a sense of emptiness in her heart that didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t figure out how to solve it.

When He Xiangyue returned and saw the plate of vegetables and fish on the table, she was surprised. “You went catching fish today?”

Glancing at Ji Baiqing, Wen Miao took the initiative to answer, “Yes, we caught four.”

He Xiangyue looked them over and muttered, “So many, we can’t eat them all. We’ll send one to the neighbors later, and another to Hehua.” Seeing Ji Baiqing still with her head down in silence, He Xiangyue put her hands on her hips and gave her daughter’s forehead a sharp poke. “What are you dazed for! Did you hear what I said?”

Ji Baiqing finally looked up, looking a bit blank. “Ah?”

Wen Miao stepped in to help her out. “Auntie, I’ll deliver them. I happened to have something to discuss with Xiaomi anyway.”

Glancing at her daughter, who was clearly off today, He Xiangyue felt suspicious. What’s going on?

During lunch, He Xiangyue’s doubts grew. Usually, when there was meat, Ji Baiqing would favor the outsider, her first move being to give Wen Miao a piece. Why was she just eating for herself today? On the contrary, Wen Miao occasionally gave Ji Baiqing some food, but after a few times, Ji Baiqing refused.

“Wen Miao, just eat your own.”

He Xiangyue and Ji Wei exchanged a look, both finding it strange. After the meal, He Xiangyue tied the two fish with hemp rope, and Wen Miao got ready to head out. At that moment, Ji Baiqing finally spoke up softly, “Go a bit later. The sun is harsh right now; it’s easy to get heatstroke.”

Hearing the other was still thinking of her, Wen Miao’s heart softened. She answered with a smile, “It’s fine, I’ll just wear my hat.”

Seeing her persistence, Ji Baiqing disapproved. But given Wen Miao’s confession from the morning, she felt awkward and eventually swallowed what she wanted to say. She could only watch silently as Wen Miao carried the fish out.

After washing the dishes, she locked herself in her room, still feeling troubled. She began to recall everything from the day they first met—exactly when did Wen Miao’s friendship change its nature?

The memories rewound, but all Ji Baiqing could think of were the intimate scenes between them. The two of them pressed together, exchanging saliva, as if trying to merge into one. And every time she got close, Wen Miao’s face would become as vivid as a fresh flower. Everything seemed to have had a trace all along; only Ji Baiqing herself was like a fool, thinking those intimate behaviors were normal.

She grabbed her hair and let out a wail. In her past life, no one ever told her that best friends couldn’t kiss! Ji Baiqing suddenly realized that those “bestie” tags on kissing videos were just tricks used by couples. Only Ji Baiqing, the victim, felt a sense of pain.

How should she face Wen Miao in the future? Could the two of them still be friends? She hadn’t planned on being in a relationship with Wen Miao, but she was greedy enough to want to continue being best friends. After all, her wish was to personally watch Wen Miao get better and better. She thought long and hard until an idea slowly took shape in her mind.

When Wen Miao returned from delivering the fish and opened the door, she met Ji Baiqing’s spirited eyes. She froze, not understanding what had happened. Did she work it out?

Before she could ask, Ji Baiqing spoke, “Wen Miao, I don’t think your feeling for me is ‘like’.” She continued under Wen Miao’s cooling gaze, “You… you probably just don’t know what real ‘like’ looks like.”

Seeing Wen Miao’s expression grow colder, Ji Baiqing felt a bit intimidated. After stuttering for a bit, she still said what she wanted to say, “How about you go on some blind dates? Try being in a relationship with someone else. Then you’ll realize that what we have is just pure friendship.”

After saying this, Ji Baiqing looked expectantly at Wen Miao, longing for her response.

Wen Miao gave a cold laugh. “Blind dates? Who do you want me to see?”

Ji Baiqing swallowed. “Um, do you like men or women?”

“Women.”

Ji Baiqing gave her a coaxing smile. “I’ll help you look for someone.”

Seeing this, Wen Miao laughed out of sheer anger. “Fine, I’ll be waiting.”

Ji Baiqing had a thousand predictions, but she never expected Wen Miao to agree so readily. A secret part of her heart felt a faint sense of displeasure. Indeed, Wen Miao doesn’t truly like me. Otherwise, she should have refused. How could she agree?

No, Ji Baiqing shook her head. It’s right for her to agree. I don’t like Wen Miao anyway!

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